The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-06
SWAMPS FULL or BEAR.
Ward Allen Brought Down the RiN :
err u $50 Founder Last Night.

Ward Allen Brought Down the RiN
err "a $50 Founder Last Night.
Bears are numerous in the swamp9
and woods frequented by duck hunters
Ward Allen of duck-shootng fame, re-
turned TO the city last night with the
body OF a 15O-pound bear, which was
the center of interest with all who saw
it. The bear was shot by Mr.. John
Fitzgerald, who had accompanied Allen
on the hunting trip.
Il did not do it myself" said Allen
though | was instrumental in getting
the chap. The bear was shot by John
Fitzgerald, and mortality wounded
though l put the finishing touches to
him. l was shooting ducks in an old
prairie bordering a swamp, and it must
have been somewhere in this vicinity
that brun was hiding. The sound of
my firing must have frightened him,
and he started samblng off to a place
of safety. Unfortunately for him, he
started in Fits direction. Fitz heard
him oming and laid for him near a
small opening through which it was
almost certain that the bear would
emerge. The hunter calculated jus.
right and when the big shaggy sides
appeared, he sent a load of buckshot
into them. The hunter was only a few
feet from the bear, and the shot took
full effect, wounding him badly F'itz
is a cripple and could not follow up his
prize. though he was certain from the
bears actions that he had badly
wounded him. and that he could be
easily taken. He at once called to me
and took un the job.
As soon as l heard what had hap
pened l went to the place where the
bear was when shot and easily follow
ed his trail. ! was armed with a shot
gun and buckshot, but / was conf
dent that If | once caught up with
him that / could finish him off in prop
err style.
Il had not followed the trail very
far, when ] came upon the bear. He
seemed utterly oblivious of all his sur
roundings, and his only object appear
ed TO be to relieve himself of the pain
of the wound. / thought that he was
mortally wounded from his actions, but
still / had no desire to go close up to
him and take on a Misunderstanding ac-
quaintance.
Il waited until got him just where
! wanted him and then sent a load of
buckshot crashing into his head. This
nnlSned MIN completely. Inc rest was
easy. The fellow was a large one and
/ had to drag him down to the waters
edge. The boat then pulled around to
where l was and with little difficulty
we got him aboard and brought him
into the city.
There are more bears in the woods
and swamps this year" continued AL
len, ethan ever before. and / myself
have killed a number in the immediate
vicinity In which we located the one
killed to-day. There Is scarcely a day
that ! do not either see or hear a bear
prowllng around or scampering off to
a place of safety.
"Only day before yesterday I missed
one because / did not see him until
it was too late to get my gun on him.
/ was lighting my pipe when / noticed
him up tree a few yards to my right.
l dropped pipe, match. tobacco and all
and prepared to get the old fellow but
he was on to me.
II grabbed my gun and changed
shells at once, but though this process
took only a few seconds 1t was suffi-
cient for bruin to get away. l was
sorry to lose him, but 1t couldn't be
helped. I am confident that If went
out always prepared for bear that
could get many and that 1t might be
more profitable than shooting ducks"
When asked why he did not give up