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- Dec 19, 2002
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Was trying to find a picture of a well known civil war soldier when I stumbled across this article that I'd thought you guys enjoy.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabradfo/heverly/danger.htm
Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania by Clement F. Heverly in Two Volumes, 1913 & 1915.
"Struggle With a Bear== One of the fearless pioneer hunters was Daniel Heverly, Jr. of Overton who had many narrow escapes in his encounters with wild beasts. On one occasion he came upon a large bear. He fired but only wounded the animal. A fierce battle at once ensued between his dog and the bear. Before he could reload, the bear had got the advantage, and not wishing to lose his dog, he ran up to the bear and caught him by the hind legs to draw him off. The bear then turned upon him and he fought him off as best he could till the dog could again close in by a new hold on the bear's heels. Thus the battle went on for some time, until the hunter was nearly exhausted. Finally their struggles brought them near an old tree, when Heverly seized a hemlock knot and dealt the bear several telling blows across the head and put an end to his existence."
My commentsLesson: Bring a repeater. Bring a dog. Bring another gun. Bring the other dog. Bring all your friends with guns and dogs.
"Skulker in Bear Fight-- It was not long after the Irvines had settled the eastern hills of Monroe, Welch Irvine and James Rippey were working for George Irvine. Hearing the dog set up an earnest barking -- signifying that game of importance was at hand -- George with his gun, accompanied by the other two men, hastened to the spot of interest. Up a large pine, Bruin was unmindful of the oncoming storm. George levelled 'old Trust' on the animal and invited him down with the touch of the finger. When the gun spoke the bear tumbled to the ground, but not dead. The faithful canine sprung upon him and an encounter ensued in which Bruin was likely to get the best of it. Welch with a cane in hand put to the rescue, while George reloaded as quickly as possible. Welch's blows not proving effective with his light cudget and George not being able to shoot again in fear of wounding the dog, he picked up a pine knot and dealt the animal several lusty blows which ended his bearship. After the battle had been fairly ended, Rippey was looked for. He had decided early in the contest that 'discretion was the better part of valor,' and was found up a tree, far out of harm's way."
my comments - bring only your friends with guns. The looky-loos won't do much for you.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabradfo/heverly/danger.htm
Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania by Clement F. Heverly in Two Volumes, 1913 & 1915.
"Struggle With a Bear== One of the fearless pioneer hunters was Daniel Heverly, Jr. of Overton who had many narrow escapes in his encounters with wild beasts. On one occasion he came upon a large bear. He fired but only wounded the animal. A fierce battle at once ensued between his dog and the bear. Before he could reload, the bear had got the advantage, and not wishing to lose his dog, he ran up to the bear and caught him by the hind legs to draw him off. The bear then turned upon him and he fought him off as best he could till the dog could again close in by a new hold on the bear's heels. Thus the battle went on for some time, until the hunter was nearly exhausted. Finally their struggles brought them near an old tree, when Heverly seized a hemlock knot and dealt the bear several telling blows across the head and put an end to his existence."
My commentsLesson: Bring a repeater. Bring a dog. Bring another gun. Bring the other dog. Bring all your friends with guns and dogs.
"Skulker in Bear Fight-- It was not long after the Irvines had settled the eastern hills of Monroe, Welch Irvine and James Rippey were working for George Irvine. Hearing the dog set up an earnest barking -- signifying that game of importance was at hand -- George with his gun, accompanied by the other two men, hastened to the spot of interest. Up a large pine, Bruin was unmindful of the oncoming storm. George levelled 'old Trust' on the animal and invited him down with the touch of the finger. When the gun spoke the bear tumbled to the ground, but not dead. The faithful canine sprung upon him and an encounter ensued in which Bruin was likely to get the best of it. Welch with a cane in hand put to the rescue, while George reloaded as quickly as possible. Welch's blows not proving effective with his light cudget and George not being able to shoot again in fear of wounding the dog, he picked up a pine knot and dealt the animal several lusty blows which ended his bearship. After the battle had been fairly ended, Rippey was looked for. He had decided early in the contest that 'discretion was the better part of valor,' and was found up a tree, far out of harm's way."
my comments - bring only your friends with guns. The looky-loos won't do much for you.
It took about 14 shots. I only had 3 bolts. 
The next deer I shot after that, I ran up and cut her throat. DRT, instantaneously. 
