Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1879 — A Bear Fight. [ARTICLE]

A Bear Fight.

A lively bear fight in the Adirondacks is described in a letter from Indian river to the New York Saratogian. It occurred at about six miles from that place, at a shanty which is owned by a number of gentlemen who visit that region about twice a year for the purpose of hunting and fishing. The party consisted of Mr. Parker, of New York, Mr. Pulver, two gentlemen from Conklingville, N. J.,and a guide named Bonnie. Returning from their day’s hunt, the two Conklingville hunters went back with a stretcher for the purpose of. fetching a deer that had been killed. Bonnie started from the shanty to get a pail of water, some little distance away. Parker, who is in poor health, and Pulver were left in charge of the cabin, and the latter wa3 engaged in making a hot sling for his invalid friend. All at once Pulver heard his friend give a fearful scream, and, upon looking up, found a huge black bear growling and snarling in the most savage manner. The bear ad vanced toward Pulver as though to take him in its embrace. Pulver, acting upon the impulse of the moment, dashed the now-boiling water full in the animal’s face, at the same time endeavoring to make his-es-cape to the loft overhead. He had barely time to reach the top round of the short ladder when the exasperated bear caught him by the leg and held him as in a vise, lacerating his limb. Pulver cried lustily for help. Parker, nearly frightened to death, caught the bear by the short tail, and prevented him"from making further advance on his friend. They now both cried piteously for help, and it came quickly in the form of Bonnie, the guide, whose experience in the woods had taught him that coolness and decision were the things needed in such an emergency. This he showed in his quickness in getting a gun and shooting the beast. Odds and Ends. No sooner has one learned how to live than one must die. Everybody gives advice; few take it, and none act upon it. Beware of a religion that pays its ministers large salaries. All women consult their mirrors; very few listen to them. All death’s heads grin. Can they have read their epitaphs? No one ever admits his defects if it is not to insist upon their compensations. From the moment that a defect can no longer be concealed tre exaggerate it*