The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
BEAR HUNT AT OUR DOORS.
THRILLING EXPERIENCES or A BAND
or nRfHE WEN IN ULSTER COUNTT.

Bear That Escaped. and So Seventy
three Valiant Men Went Forth to Duty.
NEW PALrz. n. Y. June 24.-It was good
many years ago since the last native bear was
killed in this part Of Ulster county. and last
weeks event over toward the Highland range
Of mountains beyond Clintondale. was novel
for the younger generation and caused the
older inhabitants to become reminiscent. put
ting premium on bear stories at every gen.
eral store. inn and Post Once throughout the
countryside. 1t was real bear hunt doubly
crcditabe because the township voted no
license several years ago. Hence the event
discounts the snake and wildcat stories which
periodically emanate from the Pine Bush dis
trict. over in another township. where there are
three dstorles and a sanitarum.
For several seasons. as soon as the annual
crop OF summer boarders begins to appear
throughout the county from Goshen to Over
look Mountain. two natives OF Hungary have
come forth from alternating quarters some-
where with a trained bear to tour all the sum
mcr resorts in tho county. Their success in
rnkng in tho shekels has been considerable in
past Seasons. and this year their appearance
was made u little earlier than usual. and in
stead Of tho one patient old bear that was their
capital and stock in trade in other years. they
came up the dusty roads with two quadrupeds.
the new one being somewhat larger animal
which was heavily chained and muzzled and
apparently only half tanned; 1t was, noticed
that the new Bruin lacked the mild. hopeless
ways of his fellow captive. and that the train
ing process which the masters were endeavor-
ing 10 carry out was hampered by a longing
desire for freedom which showed Itself in many
ways. despite the Intended example OF resig-
And tho discontentcd Bruin was successful
IN tho ambition OF his captive life. No ono
E4ew Just how'll happened. Even the southern
on the story with promptness aud DESPATCH
which would have done credit to q metropoli-
m w
narted company with his chains and gained his
liberty. But Il happened. and that somewhere
tors. he set Of toward the Highland range.
Ireland Corners, tho Hunearian owners
pike through Clintondae. the truant took
tine e nS t5rs1qentsd r9ads TOWARD NIL
through long n light, and morning found them
at the, edge Of the. Highland Mountain with
i Bruin In al prooaoility r1mmagng through the
search OF a breakfast This same need OF
breakfast led hi. to repair to the
capital gain filing repast. Securing some
rope here. the , owners set back toward the
brush all day. but no Brun was started. Re-
turning to the nearby farm that night. they
campaign. but neither here nor at any of the
scattered farms around was any one to be
II was several days afterward that ono OF the
from Milton with the Township Clerk early. in
the morning after political visit lasting far
the. road the horse reared and plunged and
tSSiTG the PIT II MS mouth b ran all the way to
ing that the Town Clerk and Supervisor had
not counted upon. as it should have required a
At s place tS
and make q presenteble appearance before |
their respective home P firGles The Town Clerk
while Insisting that ( i Was bear il was
F Ts ROWE RH s % hoasoi acsspasd
and also, in the same manner, the theory that |
the condition of the two officials was due to in
After tho Town Clerk and Supervisor had |
been put to bed the wireless teegraphy OF the
through the township. and When tn the ' county d
and town fathers awoke in the afternoon they |
hc horse agast PUBLIC
the. worthy officials went from store, and tavern
to tasn and and both n9T fully agreed
difficult to combat combat. the conelusions already
sneers and rude jests were rather hard to bear.
but by. dint of tall swearing and no little ex-
Believing at nGhtfall the fact that a bear was
Ht large over toward Highlands was estab-
the country from New Paltz to GARDINER host
say@"SS s hsF saR Of sRs Highland.
on the Hudson arc wilder and more sparsely |
a Of
county lie right in from the river. On one OF /
these mountains the wood and underbrush is
very thick and for NJ les there Is not house or |
inhabitant. some time ago lumber was cut |
about half way up the mouptainside and a long
the top OF the chute little shanty. long since |
abandoned. was the place where the lumber
distance around the shanty the woods were
cleared and It was here that the vindication Of
to occur The entire able Bodied m ~ i 81
the TOWNSHIP skirted the Clearing ,yst before
ef History Mss MAGE TheR Ra
headed by the town constable, q man with
IN he fhe rss T
visor distressed in mind and body. looking at
n in front WITH tbs feeling Fl seoYy
ing read OF flank attacks and surprises.
The bear had been definitely located in tho
sion. Heroes were, at a par. and any one vol
pnteerinG to enter the hut and bring out the
not admit Of more than one entering at time
formed with its curves bristling with weapons
Of every description snd BY c0nSerted move.
IN command. having the game leg. stayed in
the rear so as to gain handicap in case OF re-
G%" sSsrs of wo osr' inches
was made when Bruip ambled out Of
conrh A sho't distance down the chute.
perehed on ne sldes. we9 the war cor
the editor, devil and ,pressman, His pencil was
poised in the air, and he was held spellbound |
by the magnificent moment. 1t was like two
armies holding their fire an instant before the
decisive struggle. The bear slowly took a |
survey Of his position, and a: the conch
soundcd another charge ambled backward |
Every inch the bear retreated was slowly oc-
cnpicd, cautiously and watchfully. by seventy
three armed men. They were tense seconds.
The hear reached the edge Of the chute, and
forces 81 lster halted at the twenty-two-foot
range which had been maintained throughout
the engagement. |
The pencil Of tho war correspondent devil
editor was still poised in the air when the bear |
suddenly turned Whether n flank movement
was Intended cannot be said. At any rate it |
on the edge, Of the chute and the ponderous
body swayed for moment and fell. The war
correspondent devil editor saw the Inevitable
coming. but his wits fed. Instead OF falling OF
the chute he fell inward, and he and Bruin
shot the chptes together. The bear being
heavier, reached the bottom first, the CORE
srondcnt u POOR second. The bear, grunted