Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-25
Spence Pitchers
Bear.

1t was away back in the days Of
fintlocks. At that time the northern
border of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua
counties was mostly a wilderness,
with only here and there small open
ings, which were made in the heavy
timbered forests by the early pioneer
settlers. This section of country is
somewhat rough and broken, although
not very mountainous, and was at that
early day as well, or perhaps better,
stocked with game than any other
portion of the State. Here were
wolves, wildcats, foxes, raccoons. bears
and deer; also marten, which were
found in great numbers all through
the southern part of the State as we'll
as in Pennsylvania, and were eagerly
hunted and trapped for their skins,
which were always ready sale. and
were among the most choice speci-
mems of fine furs that were being col
lected in the Northern and Middle
States. Those beautiful little animals
have become nearly extinct. Perhaps
few may be found in the northeast
ern part of New York or in Northern
Michigan. There was one other spe
cies of game that deserves mention,
This was the panther; but it soon fed
beyond the pale of civilization. 1t was
rarely seen and more rarely caught.
In every new settlement there were
plenty of imaginative individuals who
were ever hearing panther screams.
and who verify believed that panthers
never travelled through the forests
without making night hideous with
terrific yells and screeching. If there
had been no owls there would have
been no less number of panthers
heard from. have tramped and camp
ed in the woods more or less for more
than fifty years, and must confess
that my ears were never greeted with
single yell or scream from panth-
er.
The first settlers of this region were
men who had energy and persever-
ance, some of whom immigrated from
Rhode Island, and others from the
Mohawk Valley. There were but few
skilled hunters among them, and their
guns were of the coarsest. kind-most-
ly Of the old musket pattern. Deer
were plenty, however. and they could
generally obtain supply of yenison
when other supplies failed. It was
sometimes obtained by crust-hunting
In the month of February or March,
when any unprincipled wretch could
succeed in killing deer.
always noticed that the most in
defatgable crust-hunters were those
that never used gun, but with knife
and az followed up the dogs until the
deer was pulled down. have been
Disguised at the sight of the many
fresh (and worthless) deer skins
which i have seen hanging around
some Of the settlers cabins in the
months of February and March.
Bears were frequently caught in
traps or log pens, and some were fol,
lowed up with dogs and shot. l re-
member of one being caught in
somewhat singular manner, which 1
believe never had precedent.
Spencer Pitcher was noted hunt
er, who came with the first settlers,
and was known far and near only by
the name of Spence. He was five
feet, eight inches high and weighed
ITO pounds; his speed and endurance
were remarkable, and perhaps he sell
dom, If ever, found his equal. Now
the majority Of the inhabitants work
ed most of the time and hunted &C.
,casionally. but Spence hunted most of
the time and worked occasionally. He
was hunting deer one rainy day about
the first of November, when he dis
covered a bear, but his gun missed
fire. Ordinarily his fiintlock was sure.
fire, but the rain had wet the charge,
and by the time he found that his
gun had become useless the bear had
begun to make off. Now bear when
started will almost invariably run up
hill where he has decided advant-
age over his pursuer if he has the
chance; but as they were then on the
summit of hill, there was no other
course open but down hill. So the
bear started on a full run and Spence
WAS close at his heels. There was
some three ircifes of snow, and the
continued rain had made it slippery
and slushy, and some fallen timber
lay In the way, but the bear made
good time and Spence kept we'll up in
the rear. At every attempt which he
- L., hN ,br
with the muzzle end Of his rife, it
would just seem to slip about half a
length ahead. and every time he
struck it lessened his own speed, so
that he had to put In his best to catch
up again.
They soon struck level land where
the woods were clear of logs and
brush. Here they both settled down