The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-09-22

"When this bear was taken by Lew Simons
away from the Allen House at HoDesdale
in 1897 the father OF the girl who had been
20 unceremonionsly Rugged by Bruin drove
the team that transported Jef to his new
home. In making the trip this man found
company over in that region, and he hired
out. Subsequently he removed his family,
including the girl who was Rugged by the
bear, to the now locality, and afterward
bought a farm near tho Pike county bound
airy line. There the daughter married q
Ia who was afterward made game keeper
for the man who had got possession OF the
Lew Simons bear. He didn't know. though,
that he had in his charge a bear that had
so nearly squeezed the life out of his wife.
"A few days after JEFF Davis was placed
in charge Of this game keeper the latter
took his gun apart one day and was cleaning
il in front Of the lodge. Suddenly he got Q
blow alongside the head that sent him
sprawling. Getting 70 his feet. he saw the
bear sitting on his launches a short dis
lance away. JEFF had in SOM way got
loose and had evidently started out on
the warpath. The hears custodian had
just time 10 tumble in at thu lodge door
and fasten il behind him when the bear
get into the house JEFF besiegsd il. For
two days and nights he kept the sams
Keeper n prisoner.
Then he thought Of a plan Of escape. In
n corner Of the lodge laya piece OF thin but
strong rope a few yards long which had
been left from a coil from which q number
OF anchor ropes for rowboats had been
cut for use in fishing on the pond. Tying IN
easy running moose in one end OF this rope,
the game keeper went to the window and
raised It,. The bea was on guard, shufhed
quickly that way, and rose on his hind feet,
expecting his prisoner to come u Tho
prisoner, however, tossed the moose over the
bears head. drew 1t tight. and whipped
the other end around a post in the cabin
n made il fast. He then dashed out Of
the door and away toward the clearing for
HELM to get the best of the ugly bear.
John Traphagan. a furnitu re man from
Newark. N. j.. who always spent Q
week OF so after deer In those parts. was
and the gamekeeper came upon him ~ he
was %hurrying after help. Traphagan went
with the gamekeeper. and they found
the bear pacing furiously up and down In
front Of the house. Old Jef was 90 ugly
and evidently bent on mischief that tho
ing him shot. and Traphagap put the bullets
JEFF that ended his career.
But then came trouble after tho bear
was dead. The owner OF JET disputed
shot and discharged him. Trspha1n
settled with the owner for the dead bear and
bought the skin. as IL was a fine one. And
II happened that through this incident
found pleasant quarters at
the gamekeeperis house and made that his
place thereafter when up there
IAN this time. though. neither Traphasan
the gamekeeper's folks knew what bear
it was that had brought all these thinsp
10 pass. n then Traphagan went 70
Gouldsboro to take the cars for homo. and
The bear skin was oartod over a. well. Thon
Lew Simons saw the big skin and knew
1t nos the bear 1t had belonged to. In
1uiry Of T~raphagan led to his hearing hov
JED Davis had been brought low, and L0v
hen unfolded TO Traphasan the story
niioent skin he had Possession Of. WhSn
got home hs had q robe mads
rom DC Jef's skin. and on receiving news
hat an expected event 10 the g~amekoepsr's
'amily had oome. which was an addition 20
obs . : : BirsSS.y- si ~ for "a shs Irs0sS