The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-10-28

DuHlSt LAWS, VINO ulcu ldlc III lJUU
in his ninety-fifth year, was the las
survivor of the numerous bands of i'm.
migrants who came struggling into The
then unbroken forests of the township
of Springbrook New York, between
1906 and 1876. AS lad of seven years
or thereabout, he came in 1872 with
his father, Horatio Davis, and his -four
sisters, all older than himself. Mrs. Da-
Wis died the year before.
A dozen years later Daniel had
grown to be sturdy young man oil
nineteen, and the family were firmly
established on one of the best farms
in all Western New York. Father and
son, working together, had cleared the
land; three of the sisters had married
and all were prospecting.
TWenty-Odd miles to the southwest OF
the Davises' farm dwelt Ephraim
Granger, who had been their next-door
neighbcr in Connecticut The two fam
lilies still regarded themselves as neigh
bors, although a hundred houses and
farms interviewed, where not one had
been upon their arrival.
The Erie Canal, connecting the Hud-
son River at Albany with Lake Erie at
Buffalo, was nearing completion. DR..
Davis had obtained a contract to sup
ply the lumber needed for the stretch
of canal between Syracuse and Roch-
ester, and Mr.. Granger sold him the
standing timber on two hundred acres
adjoining his own farm, which was
much nearer the line of the canal than
was the Davis place. There was also
a good sawmill on Thompson's Creek
only two miles away. Daniel Davis
hired dozen men and went to the
timber tract
> The party were all experienced
-woodsmen. They built shack or
lean-to of bark, enclosed on four sides,
but with wide opening, just outside
Of which fire was kept burning at
night and to cook their meals.
Washington Granger was about Dan
iels age, and the two young men were
fast friends. A member of the Grang-
er household of hardly less Importance
than the only son was Bose a magni-
ficent hound He was a yellowish-
brown animal weighing fully sixty
pounds, and was as fearless as lion.
Mr.. Granger had refused fifty dollars
for him, fabulous price for dog at
that time.
AT noon on the fourth Saturday af
ter they had begun getting out the
logs, Daniel consented to take half
holiday and try to shoot deer. Wash
ington Granger was to accompany
him with Bose.
The two left the camp at one o'clock,
and had gone only few miles when
the hound routed out a fierce old bear.
Bose instantly fastened upon the bears
hind quarter, and the animals rolled
over and over as they fought
"Shoot, Wash, shoot!" Daniel shout
ed Bose will be torn into strings or
else Rugged to death If you don't.
Washington hesitated only for mo-
ment. The risk of hitting the dog was
not so great as that of leaving the
eombatants alone. He took quick aim
back of bruins fore leg, and fired just
ms the two animals rolled over. The
huge bullet went straight to the
bears heart, killing him instantly, but
the dog fell, too, seemingly as dead as
the bear.
The force behind the ball had been
too great. The missile had gone
through the bears body, and had then
passed through the top Of the hounds
head, making groove in the skull.
Apparently the brain had been pene-
srated. but in reality the bullet had
gone above and had merely depressed
4he bone.
washington was broken hearted as
ne thought Of what he had done. What
would his father do and say? He turn
ed the limp body over, examined the
wound and the scratches where the
bears claws had furrowed the tough
skin. and then sat down with his head
in his hands. Daniel sympathized with
his friend keenly, but as he did not
know how to express himself he turned
his back and pretended to examine his
rife.
Neither was giving any thought to
what was occurring about then, when
suddenly they heard growl that made
their flesh creep, it was so rasping.
high-keyed and peculiar. They sprang
up thinking another bear was about
10 attack them, but instead they saw
that Bose had staggered to his feet,
and. with his hair bristling and froth
dropping from his jaws, was making
off toward the underbrush. He did not
iope or gallop, but trotted stifiy, with
heaying TANKS and his nose pointed