The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-07-20

the disturbance. But Bruin was not tC
be so summarily disposed of. He fought
viciouslv and was aided in his efforts by
the numbers of his opponents. The
men could not use their knives effect.
lively, for they were interferred with by
the dogs and by each other; and the
dogs could not fight freely on account
of the men. Finally, when one dog had
been put out Of commission, the other
one hurt, and the men beaten off, Bruin
made hasty retreat. We NAV i'm
agine the disgust of the hunters. They
probably looked at each other with re-
proachful eyes and each probably de-
clared it was all the fault of the other.
Fighting bears thus with only hunt
ing knife was by no means uncommon
among the harder spirits, but of course
it was very dangerous and not INDUCED
in except on wagers or when circum-
stances demanded it. But hunters
would often be. compelled to defend
themselves from wounded animals
when their guns were empty and the
only resource was the knife.
Your Representative hunter was averse
to running from any wild beast; for. by
preserving bold front, he might in
timidate the animal. while by running
and showing tear he would only embol-
den it, Besides this, his pride prompt
ed him to overcome any feeling of fear
or timidity that might arise within him.
Many stories are related of fierce en-
counters at close quarters between man
and beast, some of which are mention
ed herein.
Little more need be said concerning
Jonathans skill as hunter 1t Is said
that one fall he and his brother Thomas
arranged that each should hunt till he
had killed forty deer, and the one who
was the first to kill the prescribed num-
Der should be considered the better
hunter. One evening they counted VI
their score and found that each hac
thirty-nine to his credit. Resolved tC
Guido his brother, Jonathan started out
at day break the next morning and
fortunately, killed his tortieth deer be.
| fore Thomas had left camp
1t would be useless to try to estimate
the number of deer these brothers
Thomas and Jonathan, killed during
their lives; for the killing of a deer wa;
a matter of every dav life and was con
sidered no more worthy of remem
brance than other incidents of minol
importance. This one season they kill
ed forty apiece in the contest, and who
| knows how many afterwards? They
spent part of their time every wear
for at least fifty years hunting game OF
various kinds. A guess at the tota
number of deer. bears panthers cata
mounts, wolves, etc, that fell victims
to their proves would be presumptu.
GUS in one of the present day. and 1t i;
doubtful if they. themselves. could have
given figures by any means accurate
Such incidents in their careers as are
herein mentioned cannot give the read
er definite idea of the life of these
men because they are so disjointed and
after all. not such as would interest u:
most. We would like to know the story
of an ordinary hunt-how they started
out, the character of the country, how
the deer were killed, and where, the
craft they employed in stalking the
game, lin brief, the details which ole
men think unworthy of mention. AL
this could be supplied by a fertile i'm.
agination, facts being used as a foun-
dation but we fear the veneer of fc-
ton could be too readily detected by
those we'll acquainted with game and
the chase. Besides. we purpose to ad.
mt nothing to these pages that is not
vouched for by reputable authorities.