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Story
November 7, 1878
The Camden Journal
Camden, Kershaw County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Rev. S. J. Nicholls, on vacation at Camp Stickney near Booneville, Oneida County, kills four bears with a shotgun while on an island with his wife; his daughter May later shoots a deer.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Clergyman's Adventure.
Rev. S. J. Nicholls, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mo., has been spending his vacation with his wife and daughter at Camp Stickney, a well-known hunting and fishing camp near Booneville, Oneida county. In a recent letter to a friend he relates the following exciting incident: "On Wednesday last I had quite an adventure. While Mrs. Nicholls and I were on a little island in the lake, watching for a deer, I saw four bears swimming toward us. The island was only eighty feet long and about fifty wide, so we were likely to have close work. I had a shot gun and six cartridges for the battle. As the bears rose to come ashore I fired at the largest one and wounded it. With the second shot I killed one of them. The third shot hit the big one again, and it rose on its hind legs for a fight. I gave it a fourth and fifth shot, and then with the sixth killed the other two. It was all over in about four minutes, but it was exciting while it lasted. May and Mrs. Nicholls were a good deal stirred up, but behaved bravely, and did not scream or cry. When our guide came with his boat we had four bears for him. I shall have one of the smaller ones 'set up,' so you can see him in St. Louis. The largest one weighed two hundred and fifty pounds. On the evening of the same day May shot a deer. This may look like bragging but it is only the plain, unvarnished truth."
Rev. S. J. Nicholls, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, Mo., has been spending his vacation with his wife and daughter at Camp Stickney, a well-known hunting and fishing camp near Booneville, Oneida county. In a recent letter to a friend he relates the following exciting incident: "On Wednesday last I had quite an adventure. While Mrs. Nicholls and I were on a little island in the lake, watching for a deer, I saw four bears swimming toward us. The island was only eighty feet long and about fifty wide, so we were likely to have close work. I had a shot gun and six cartridges for the battle. As the bears rose to come ashore I fired at the largest one and wounded it. With the second shot I killed one of them. The third shot hit the big one again, and it rose on its hind legs for a fight. I gave it a fourth and fifth shot, and then with the sixth killed the other two. It was all over in about four minutes, but it was exciting while it lasted. May and Mrs. Nicholls were a good deal stirred up, but behaved bravely, and did not scream or cry. When our guide came with his boat we had four bears for him. I shall have one of the smaller ones 'set up,' so you can see him in St. Louis. The largest one weighed two hundred and fifty pounds. On the evening of the same day May shot a deer. This may look like bragging but it is only the plain, unvarnished truth."
What sub-type of article is it?
Adventure
Heroic Act
Survival
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Triumph
Survival
What keywords are associated?
Bear Encounter
Clergyman Hunt
Camp Stickney
Booneville
Oneida County
Shotgun Battle
What entities or persons were involved?
Rev. S. J. Nicholls
Mrs. Nicholls
May
Where did it happen?
Camp Stickney Near Booneville, Oneida County, On A Little Island In The Lake
Story Details
Key Persons
Rev. S. J. Nicholls
Mrs. Nicholls
May
Location
Camp Stickney Near Booneville, Oneida County, On A Little Island In The Lake
Event Date
Wednesday Last
Story Details
Rev. Nicholls and his wife spot four bears swimming to their small island; armed with a shotgun and six cartridges, he wounds and kills all four in quick succession; his daughter May shoots a deer that evening.