Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
BEAR IN A TRAP.
Dragged n Forty-Pound weigh
Through Two Counties.

Through Two COunties
Somewhere in the forest region that ex-
tends from Cogan House township, Lycom-
ing county, to the Black Forest, in the
southeastern part OF Potter county, reports
the Philadelphia Record, there is roaming
these days q big black bear with a forty
pound steel trap and a ten-foot chain at
tached to his leg.
This bear broke away with one Of Joseph
Hopkins traps. near Brookslde, about a
week ago. and the last heard Of the shackled
beast was up in the Slate run region, over
thirty miles from Brookslde. For two DAYS
a party OF four hunters chased the fugitive
bear and once one OF the men saw bruin
stumbling along and out OF rife range.
Though handicapped by the weight Of the
trap and the long dangling chain, the bear
was evidently able to travel faster than
were the men, for the fact that he was
seen In the upper Slate run district three
days after his escape shows that he was
yet able to get over territory lively.
The bear Is said to be as large as a year
ling heller. 1t had been preying on Farmer
Hopkins sheep and pigs for a month before
1t allowed itself to be inveigled into the
trap and 1t was probal y his desire for a
change Of diet that resulted in his downfall
Hopkins hung a calf's head eight feet above
the ground, beneath which the largest of his
jaw-tooth traps was hidden.
Next morning the calf's head was there.
out the trap was gone. The captive bear
must have set himself free, for the chain
NAG been unfastened from Its circle around
. log.
1t was on the morning OF the first day
that Luke GriswoId, one of the pursuers.
saw the h9aF Tho Nzo, vro. 81
It's hind legs. Now, besides being out the
bear and all his sheep and shoats. Mr.. Hon
kins is also minus his 500 bear trap.
Old hunters are eagerly discussing tho
probable fate of the shackled bear. Most Of
them think that he will keep on going and
going, toting his heavy load with him until
he worries and starves himself to death.
unless somebody chances to shoot him. and
even then the meat would be inferior. for A
bear soon losses his plumpness and the
nesh becomes dry and tasteless in captivity.
other backwoodsmen who know something
or the habits Of bears say thai this bear
VIII return to his quarters that he occu-
pied last winter and will there await the
natural process Of modification OF the i'm
prisoned foot to be freed from the trap:
that the leg will then heal up and a three
looted bear will be seen next season. Grim
pied In that manner the bear could get
around lively enough and over a small terri
tory, but he could never again Join the hik-
ing forays OF his companions.
When seen in the Slate run region the
bear was stumbling along an old log road,
going In the direction OF the heart OF the
Black forest-that Eden Of black bears and
catamounts. Two unarmed woodsmen saw
him. The were first attracted to him by
the rAttling Of the chain as It dropped
along over the rocks. and, hiding in the
thieket along the roadside. they were within
ten yards Of the bear when Il passed and
they had a good chance to see him. The
men say that he had a most forlorn look on
his face, as though worried, weary and dis
heartened. He half jerked, half dragged
the heavy trap along. but when one Of the
men yelled at the top OF his voice the poor
beast broke into a logged run, as though
yet determined to escape any further tor
ment at the hands Of man.
Like some derelict on the ocean this
shaekled bear will probably wander aim
lessly and sadly among the ravines OF the
Black forest, to be seen now and then BY
hunters, serving to add zest to. the hreside
stories in camps or affording material for
yarns at the village store.