Northern Watchman

From the Bangor (Me.) Whig.

A BOY TAKEN BY A BEAR.

The following account from our correspondent at Linneus can be relied on as correct. Linneus is in Washington county, about 100 miles east of this city and adjoins the town of Houlton.

Correspondence of the Bangor Whig and Courier.

Linneus, Me. Nov. 19. 1838.

Mr. Editor.—Presuming that your readers, like most others, are fond of the marvellous, especially when tinctured with the truth, I hasten to lay before you the following occurrence which took place in this town last evening. About 7 o'clock in the evening Mr. Isaac Saunders' son James, who is about eight years of age, was sent to the barn to feed the cattle, and while returning therefrom to the house, (the distance from the barn to the house is about 40 rods) had his attention arrested by the appearance of a huge black object directly ahead of him. He stood still for a moment, not knowing whether to advance or retreat. At length he concluded to go ahead, when the bear rose up on his hind legs, and put himself in an attitude to receive the youngster in his fore paws. The boy perceiving the attitude of the bear, and his apparent determination to maintain his ground, gave a loud screech, and turned and ran towards the barn. At this, the bear started in pursuit, and came up with the boy, who was still screeching. Just as the men in the house who had heard the alarm, were approaching the theatre of action, the bear seized the boy, with his fore paws raised himself again upon his hind legs, and started with his prey with all possible dispatch for the woods. The men hotly pursued him for some three quarters of a mile, when the bear finding himself but a few feet ahead of his pursuers, turned around and stood face to face with them, when the one each of whom was armed with an axe, made a motion to give him a gentle tap upon the head, but his left paw was ready to fend off, while he held the boy tightly with his right one. The men finding it was useless to fight with axes, one of them started for the house after a gun, which he loaded with buck shot, and returned to the woods. On his arrival at the scene of battle, the bear in attempting to turn and try leg bail again, was shot through the left side of his body, which brought him to the ground, and caused him to relinquish his hold of the boy, who scampered home more frightened than hurt, having received no other harm than a most unconscionable hugging. Mr. Saunders took the bear to his house, skinned and dressed him, and I have just finished my supper, which was made partly of a portion of his flesh. The bear weighed when dressed 392 lbs., and is said to be the largest ever caught in this town.

For some time past, a number of persons have had depredations committed on their stock, by some wild animal or animals. Sheep have been slaughtered repeatedly, and in one or two instances swine, and even cows have been attacked and killed. One man, Mr. David Rollins, for instance, has lost two fine cows, and I have been compelled to drive my cattle into the barn for security.

Yours, &c.

J. T.