The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
THESE 0 A FIGHT BEARS.
HUNsICKER PROPELLED TO VICToRH
ON ms QUEER FARM.

ON ms QUEER FARM.
Black Bears ms an Obstacle to Raising
Goats for the Mnrket-The Goat Farm.
er's Attempt to spoil Bruins Breakfast
sweeping Victory of Two Billies.
wILLrAMsroRT, Pa, Jan. 14.-Four years aso
when Jerry Hunsicker started his goat farm
away up on the mountains in the Pine Creek
regions he had no idea that one of the worst
enemies he would have to contend with would
be black bears. He leasedsnenrly 1000 acres
OF mountain land, or which the hemlock, pine
and hardwood trees had been cut. A growth
OF underbrush afforded excellent browsing and
as Hunsicker had raised many goats low In
the Schuylki!l coal regions, where they had lit
tie else but laurel to eat. he thought that the
animals would thrive on the fresh shrubbery
Of the Pine Creek hills. To-day ho has a
drove OF $50 goats. among them being several
OF the most obstreperous billy goats that ever
paved dust or butted an adversary. And IL
is a good thing for Hunsicker that these
fighting goats we're on hand otherwise his kids
would have suffered worse than they did from
tho bears.
Pine Creek bears are famous for their trout
catching propensities. and the small farmers
back in the Puterbaugh Mountains have suf-
fcled owing to their taste for lamb. Hum
sicker's goats and Kids were something new
for the Pine Creek bears. For the first sea-
son or two. therefore. the goats were unmo-
Tested. The flock fiourished. and moro than
one half-grown goat was slaughtered and
shipped to an unsuspecting customer as the
meat Of lawn or doe. Indeed. some people
who know venison when they eat 1t declare
that the meat from Jerry Huuslcker's goat
farm has n superb flavor. But last fall the
bears got onto the value Of kid and Hunsick-
er's troubles began. Black bears have killed
and pnrrinl ayvav at lpnet n 1pzan nf hIc Ootn-
Der kids. and before the winter is over he fears
that the seasons profits will have been spoiled.
He has had something more than trouble with
his goats this winter, though, and the bears
have been the cause OF 1t.
The first winter that he lived in the Pine
Creek region he did some trapping for furs.
He CAPTURED several black bears. and from
the skins of two of the largest he:had a great
coat made. with which to keep warm while out
in the mountains taking care OF his goats. The
coat comes almost to his toes. and with a cap
made of bearskin on his head the big goat
herd has more of the appearance OF a black
bear than n man. He is convinced OF that fact
himself, since a week ago a rousing old billy
goat mistook him for a bear.
Hunsicker has one particularly pugnacious
goat that he has named Weyler because OF his
stood between the flock of frightened kids
and she goats and, a marauding bear. The
EchlS H EDhIl al VIII over IntlT master 9 pre-
serve. and since the SHOWS Of winter have
fallen they have been forced to seek in the
t thhnt"t the h hig hU Grounds II 9' me lon Seapo arro S%rH"fT1h hss
other day Hunsicker missed one Of his incest
half.grown goats. and made up his mind
determined to keepalookout for Bruin, and the ,
next day when the goats were turned out from
to their browsing grounds. He knew tho ra-
vine. nearly two miles away. in, which the
to make a detour and work. his. way down
from the head of the ravine, thinking that by
so doing he might run across the bear. Hs
was armed with a heavy revolver. He was
never much Of a shot with a rife. but his com;
wars SAY lg that hat as ssS a pista Se shot he sf IS hard f9 te b s,Rt.
He does all his bear, fox and wildcat hunting
with a pistol, and even when making the rounds
OF his traps he carries nothing else In the way
He reached the head of the ravine and was
under the hemlocks toward the point where
he knew he would find the goats, when he dis
were the tracks Of two hears. He had gone
only a short DISTANCE further when he came
sure. then. that he was on the track of the
,hieEi9g bears, and n he knew; too, hat the
already on their way to the Hook for break.
fast, Half a mile further he heard the fright
eIsTati RIeai from OF wb MS f 6s sou Ga nbtain a q sI yiaG
across the brush. he say a .good-sized black
bear held at bay by one Of the billy goats.
half. frightened bear much like a bantam
rooster about a Shanghai. The second bear
he could not see, and in order to get II still
better view of the situation he crawled upon
a log. one end Of which projected over q ledge
sicker caught sight of the second bear down
in the ravine. acting very queerly. Bruin APP
peared to be in distress. for he held his paws
over his abdomen and every now and then
rolled round much as "A Schoolboy would do
after a session with green apples. This bear
interested Hunsicker so much that he forgot
the other. Indeed. he was 50 wrapped UP in
the bears antics that he failed to notice the
approach of rhe pugnacious Weylcr.
Weyler was the cause of the bears distress.
Hunsicker's bearskin coat excited the ire OF
the victorious animal. and he started head-on
fortunate for Hunsicker. for without an in
stAnt's warning he received a blow that sent
him flying over the ledge into the hemlock
thicket below. He landed within a rod OF
where the now partly recovered bear was sit
ting. Luckily for Hunsicker his big coat and
the hemlock bOughs broke his fall. and when
he got himself together he, found that he was
he saw the triumphant Weyler. Then
HunSicker Dethought himself of his pistol.
and the next second q bullet went into the
bears body. Bruin fell in his tracks.
just then there was n cOmInotiOn in the rear
and Hunsicker caught sight Of he second bear
two billy goats AT the edge stood in proud tri-
looking down on their conquered foes.
A second shot finished the second bear. aud
Hunsicker crawlcd up to the top OF. the
all the goats had scnmpered out Of sight
frightened away by the pistol shots.
have become bear lighters, and when he comes
tothe put that deals with his own discontinue
by Weyler lie fairly shakes with laughter.