The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-01-17
Famous Bear Hunter
Who killed N Bears IN One ran
Still Lives In Webster County.

following series of bear stories
which have the genuine pioneer
flavor in them:
Last Saturday. the day after the
hunting season closed, good
tracking snow fell. We are sure
that no one in this county would
sink so low as to kill a deer the
day after the season closed. but
most of as went bear or rabbit
hunting Many a deer leaped out
before the hunters, but the law
said, "Thou shalt not" and the
death dealing guns were silent as
the deer loped out of range.
B. B. Hamrick of Glover Lick,
was in town and brought word of a
I'big bear which tried to cross the
railroad track at the tunnel and
was scared back off the right Of
way by the down passenger train
on Friday.
Mr.. Hamrick ia q noted bear
bunter. having killed Al in his
time. He is son of Peter Ham
rick of Webster county, who is
robably the most noted bear hum
ter who ever lived in this state.
he killed u ore fall. He is still
living, but in poor health His
home is in Elk valley in Webster
county, just below the line, and
many years ago bear and deer were
very plentiful in that section.
B b. Hamrick says that he onoe
killed bear on Cheat river under
peculiar circumstances. The river
had been high, and receding left
the pool in which a number of
suckers were confined The bear
had found the suckers and was in
the pool feeling under the lodges.
He would kill the suckers with his
paws end eat them Then he
would wait for the water to clear
and chase some more under the
ledge and feel around until he could
press the life out of them. After
watching for while he shot and
killed the bear He gives an &C.
count of days hunting with his
father when he was 10 years old
His father had Is bear traps set in
the mountains and was going the
rounds. He had two dogs which
had been trained to stop or tree a
bear and while trailing they would
stay back aud keep quiet. though
their feelings were such when they
smelt a bear they would bristle
and swell up to an abnormal size.
The boy was carrying can of
honey to bait the traps when they
came up IN bear sign. They fol-
lowed the trail where the bears had
scratched the leaves for some time,
until they discovered one. The
bear reared on his hind legs and
the father shot it down with a big
mountain rife The bear fell and
bawled. which is sure sign that
it has received death wound. The
bear will bawl then, end then only.
They were close to trap and be-
fore the gun could be reloaded
they discovered that a bear had
been caught and was all but out
through the hole that he had gnaw-
cd The dogs were hissed on and
held the bear until the gun ives
loaded and the bear shot As he
fell in his dying struggles he extri-
GATED himself from the trap.
The dogs then took a trail of an
other bear and the boy WAS left
with the two dead ones, and the
father went after them, and did
not return until sundown, in the
meantime getting two more bears.
The boy spent the day in a tree
and came down at sunset when be
heard footsteps coming, and ran,
in panic. His father ran him
over mile before he overlook him,
all the time headed for the wilder
ness. After disposing of the two
bears near the pen is was midnight
before they got home.
On another occasion he was with
his father in August in the mating
season, and going through hack
ing overgrown with briers his faith
er bawled like bear and big he
bear came to them on charge.
On seeing them he reared on hls
hind legs to make an attack. and
was shot 80 close to the muzzle of
the gun that the fur was burned
with the powder.
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