Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1907 — Shot at Bunny; Hit a Bear. [ARTICLE]

Shot at Bunny; Hit a Bear.

When John Potter of Sullivan County went rabbit hunting the other day he put three shells charged with buckshot into his belt in anticipation of meeting a fox, says the Port Jervis (N. Y.), correspondent of the New York World. It was to this foresight that he owed his life. At the edge of a swamp the hunter sighted a rabbit Bunny was brought down with a load of birdshot, but the fine shot scattered and the rabbit fell. Potter heard a terrific roar from a clump of bushes. Several of the small shot had struck a huge bear in the nose and he plunged from the undergrowth the maddest animal that ever poked his head out of a swamp. Potter was so completely taken by surprise that he had no time to run when the bear charged. He sprang to one side and escaped a blow from the beast’s paw, but a second blow struck him in the leg. ripping his felt boot from top to sole and tearing the flesh. Unmindful of the pain, Potter bolted for open country with the hear at his heels. He encountered a rail fence and vaulted over it, , but in doing so he dislocated his left wrist and fell. In desperation he Shoved one of the buckshot cartridges into bls gun, and as the bear was clambering over the fence after him he fired the full charge Into the bear’s, head. The bear fell dead within two feet of Potter. The hunter walked five miles to have his injuries dressed by a physician.