Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Quebec, June 16.
On or about 24th May, Captain James Armstrong, of the schr. Experiment, in her passage from Montreal, discovered in the river just above Wm. Henry, an enormous black he Bear. He immediately manned a boat with four men to go in pursuit of him. The only means of annoyance capable of being furnished them, was a boat hook and an axe, the schooner having no fire arms or other weapons on board. The men, though so inadequately prepared, with singular intrepidity made for bruin, and a very severe contest ensued, in which they were frequently exposed to the danger of his upsetting the boat. At one period of the conflict their situation was extremely perilous, having made a plunge at him with the boat hook, the enraged animal seized it, and by a tremendous effort of strength instantly wrenched it from the staff. The people with a courage equalled only by their dexterity, still kept their antagonist at bay, till by repeated blows aimed at his head, they eventually (with merely the staff of the boat hook) succeeded in killing him, and got their prize in safety to the schooner. He appeared to be in nearly a famished state, and doubtless had left some of the Islands opposite to seek food on the shores of Wm. Henry.— The visit of such a stranger is worthy of notice, as he was of a most enormous size, his skin being nearly square, and upwards of five feet. Had he been in condition he must have been a tremendous specimen of the species. The capt. and crew who manned the boat, deserve great praise in thus protecting the vicinity from this predatory intruder, as few persons would perhaps be found sufficiently energetic to encounter such (to use a pugilistic phrase) an ugly customer.