Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-03-31

great, and as the first small fields were
fenced and planted to corn the pio-
neers were very much annoyed by the
depredations of lack bears, which
clambered over the rail fences in the
night time and went for the roasting
ears In a style that was exasperatlng
| Finally q hunt was planned and
the half dozen settlers gathered at the
cabin of the one whose field was har-
rled 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 we'll laid
plan.
The guns were set in different places,
one on each side of the little field. One
was but a 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 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 1t re-
quired all the influence Of the older
hunters to check them. as 1t was eX-
planned to them that the falling mist
had shrunken the line, and that the
gun was fred 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 tire.
mendous commotion 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 o shot at the
bear.
The MORALLY wounded animal, which
afterward proved to be a 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 yeHs, the one in
front sprang for the fence to climb
over, at the very point where the
tumult seemed eliminating, and just
as he was reaching for hand hold of
the top rail the bear sprang over the
fence directly in front Of him, and
tumbling down from the top of the
fence knocked the hunter fiat upon
his back and fell all over him, when
the stricken brute crawled a short dis.
| lance into the darkness and died.
Yells of pain and anguish now rose
from the PROSTATE hunter, SO unex.
pectedly fattened 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 were horrihed to sec that the
poor fellow was covered with blood
and apparently MORALLY hurt.
In 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
pile of bloody entrails. The faintlng
man was tenderly carried to the house
I~I=-I-Ll--- --->~---sS ~ I~.,sIvI shr.3
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
from his hurt, but not for many day
from the jeering merriment Of his
| friends.-Forest and Stream,