The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-05-20
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sx----l ss.S..xe mn year our Hltlc h'Ibhb"'
NllI Il IIl|lI hood in Penobscot County
lIlll lllll Maine was kept in state
@A@g Of alarm by the frequent
and sudden visitations Of large black
bear, which turned up when most un-
looked for and in most unexpected
places. 1t was all the more exciting,
as no bears had been seen in that 10
cality for some years. This one was
so inquistive and daring in its treat
ment of human habitatiOns, that i
think II must have been partially
tanned at some period Of its life.
Its first reported appearance was
about the end of March, when DOd
Nerrick and Wink Dudley were max
ing maple sugar on tho side Of Jack s
Ridge They had little camp in the
lee OF the great naples, with n rough
stone arch and set Of big iron ket-
ties. Here they used sometimes TO
stay and boil sap nearly all night after
a big run"
One night they had put their last
kettleful on to boil after n hard day
OF rain, which at the last had turned
TO snow. The sap did not eyaporatc
rapidly, and the boys were tired out.
They built new fire about Q o'clock
and threw themselves down on bed
camp to browse, but had hardly shut
their eyes when a loud shifting like
that Of a great dog aroused them.
There in the doorway, with long
muzzlc extended and head swaying
from side 10 side. was big black
creature with shining eyes. Dod not
iced in the light Of the arch fire that II
had white stripe in its face. 1t
shufIled in toward the other corner of
the camp, where two pals of warm
syrup stood.
With whoOp Of terror both boys
leaped from the boughs and boltcd,
nearly running against the beast in
their frantic haste to get out Of the
camp, and did not stop till they
REACHED home. .. -.. S
~ On going TO camp early the next
morning, they found the pals over
turned. What had not been dcvourcd
OF their contents had run down
through the wide cracks Of the camp
Soor. Part of n small ham. from
which the boys had fried savory slices
for their dinners. was pulled down
from its peg by the arch and eaten,
and the boughs Of the bunk were scat
tered about the camp. Outside great
tracks I'm the soft spring snow showed
their visitor to be bear. Probably il
had just come from the long fast Of
Information. and the odor Of boiling
syrup had tempted II TO the camp.
Dod and Wink did not sec the bear
again till toward the middle of May.
Dod had determined 10 hang n May
basket for Luck Jane Mickey. despite
the dire threats Of her father, who had
given out word that any youngster
caught galloping over his onion beds
on such tom fools errand" would be
flogged.
AS an earnest OF his intention. the
old gentleman kept two or three long
birch withes standing in corner In
his entry But bod was not impressed
by these formidable preparations, and
sailed forth one bright moonlight
night with Wink.
When nearing the Mickey place, the
boys heard great commotiou in the
barnyard. which was at some distance
from the house - plaintiye bleatings,
nd NJ
stamping Of sheep and cattle ABOUT the
yard. Dropping their May baskets on
the doorstep, bod and Wink ran down
TO the yard TO discover the cause OF
such n commotlon.
ITS n bearr exclaimed Wink, peer
ing between the high bars.
Our bearp cried Dol. There's IN,
white stripe. Run for Mr.. Nickeyw
Wink rushed 10 the house 20 walker
the owner, while bod gathered stonc
and hurled them with all his might pro
miscuously at the flying combatants.
In the meantime Wink narrowl,
lodged the promised nogging. for tn
furious Mr. Mickey, wakened, as h
believed, by the persistent and lou
humping Of May baskets, pounced on
suddenly, withe in hand. 1t was onl
after nimbly circling the house severa
times that the boy succeeded in mal
ing his pursucr understand the stat
of affairs.
BY that time tho bear had come I
the conclusion that the odds were "a
great TO contend against. for pa
of big steers were careering abo,
with tails I'm the air. now and the
making dashes at ner with lowerc
head A great long g-horned ram wou
deliver sounding blow when Il
steers left an opening. At last a
ponderous horns fiercely butted q
bears stomach when she had rear,
60 strike the sheep. and sent her hee
over head into deep pool in one CO
ner Of the yard.
This. with Dod's sudden and moi
attack, put bruin in n panic, and !
linquishing her hope 20 feast on you
mutton, she crawled through n brok
fence aud ran of across the pota
Geld toward the nearby woods, just