BEAR STORIES

Bears were a great hindrance to the early settlers. They

were numerous, savage, and strong and they killed sheep, pigs, and cows, even attacking and killing large bulls.

A man by the name of John Robertson (Johnny Jim) lessened their number by 14. His father, before him, had been a bear hunter, and was known as "The Old Bear Killer".

Robertson was a man who knew much of nature and the anS or wild animals. He said, "Never stay on the ground to watch a bear for their smelling powers are very acute and they can scent a per— son a long way off." His way was to build a seat in a tree. Thjv

was made of chain or rope; in this way, one's breath ascended and bears like bandits look every way but up.

The following is a true story: A bear was killing sheep back of David MacVane's, now Mrs. Stanley MacVane's, and men had been watching for him for over a week but all in vain.

Then one evening Johnny Jim thought he would trv his luck. MacVane saw him arrive in the farm yard with the gun and a horse and cart. He (MacVane) asked him where he was going with such an outfit and he replied that he was goingtto get that bear that is

in the woods. "Did you kill him?" asked MacVane. "No but 7 am goint to and I have the horse and cart to take him home." replied Johnny Jim. "Well, great is your faith andggoodhluck to you."

said MacVane.

Johnny Jim stabled the horse and went to the woods, selected a tree, built a seat, and waited. It was dark when bruin came home for his meal. He could hear the bear munching away, so he fired in the direction of the sound. As it is highlyydangerous to approach a wounded bear, he sat for quite awhile. Later he decided his aim was good, and came down to find the bear quite dead.

In the morning he shot her cub and then returned home with the two bears.

Note: If a bear would be young and well fleshed, the best cuts of

the carcass were eaten; the fat was stripped from the insidé and rendered for soap making.