Gilpin observer., 1906-04-05

dttack tne otter, DuC though badly
wounded the otter could still prevent
the dog from swimming with hin to
the bank, and it began to look as
though he would eventually tire the
dog out. After much persuasion the
big do was finally induced to swim
in to his assistance.
Swimming up to The fighting pair
the big brute shut its eyes tightly and
made grab for the otter, when at that
instant, the other dogs head coming
in the way, he seized him py the side
of the head and turning his course
started towing the whole outfit to share
like steam propeller.
Jim said it was now only a question
of the small dogs endurance of the
pain. He still kept fast old of his
game, but before the bank was reached
the pain became uncomfortable, when
letting go of the otter he turned to
fight the big dog loose, and in the COZ
fusion the otter made good his es-
cape.
When my father was young man
he lived in Central Ohio, where hand
full of settlers were, for time, quite
isolated in the big woods. The work
of clearing the heavy forest was very
great, and as the first small fields were
fenced and planted to corn the pio-
neers were very much annoyed by the
depredations Of black bears, which
clambered over the rail fences in the
night time and went for the roasting
ears in style that was exasperating.
Finally hunt was planned and
the half dozen settlers gathered at the
cabin of the one whose field was har-
ried the worst and where the bears
entered the field, proceeded to set two
guns, heavily loaded, and with strings
attached to the triggers in such a man.
ner as to have the thieves prove their
own executioners. Getting everything
arranged before nightfall all repaired
to the cabin TO watch in silence and
darkness the result of heir well laid
plan.
The guns were set in different places,
one on each side of the little field. One
was but small rife while the other
was a tremendous affair. one OF the
largest guns ever brought into that
part of the country. Both were heavily
loaded and two big bullets were
rammed down the throat of the larger
one.
AS darkness set in n fine mist began
falling. and in short time the report
of the little gun was heard. The young
er members of the group were for rush
ing right out into the night. and it re-
quired all the influence of the older
hunters to check them. as it was ex-
planned to them that the falling mist
had shrunken the line, and that the
gun was fired in this manner.
Quiet was finally restored and with
lighted lantern in readiness again
they waited. Finally, near midnight,
the roar of the big gun filled the silent
woods. Rushing out into the night
the larger party carrying the lantern
ran in the cornfeld, while two others
ran down the cowpath which circled
the little field on the outside. A tre-
mendous commoton was heard among
the cornstalks in front. and the little
party of excited hunters ran down the
corn rows in hope, by the aid of the
lighted lantern, TO get u shot at the
bear.
The mortally wounded animal. which
afterward proved to be n monster in
size, ran for the fence to climb over
into the woods. Outside the fence the
two men could see nothing distinctly.
but hearing the riot of smashing corn
stalks and excited yells. the one in
front sprang for the fence TO climb
over. at the very point where the
tttr, Nttlt ,a1
as he was reaching for a hand hold of
the top rail the bear sprang over the
fence directly in front of him. and
tumhling down from the top of the
fence knocked the hunter Hat upon
his back and fell all over him. when
the stricken brute crawled short dis
tance into the darkness and died.
Iells of pain and anguish now rose
from the PROSTATE hunter. so unex-
pectedly flattened by the fleeing bear.
Climbing over the fence the pursuing
party now brought the light of the
lantern to bear on his PROSTATE form.
and We're Mortified to see that the
poor fellow was covered with blood
and apparently mortally hurt.
In n faint tone of voice he begged to
be taken to the house, explaining that
the feroclous brute had torn his en-
trails entirely out of him. and when
the open bosom Of his buckskin hunt
Ing shirt was opened more widely. to
the horror of his friends out rolled a
pile of bloody entrails. The falnting
man was tenderly carried to the house.
his clothes removed and body washed
and the skin wasn't broken on him.
The dying bear. dragging his entrails
after him. had deposited part of his
| bloody burden in the open bosom OF
the hunters shirt. as the rails of the
fence had torn them loose. The NOR
tally wounded hunter recovered quickly