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Bears have long been a problem to the early people in East Point. It was not until 1918 when they were eradicated. The last one was shot by Dan MacMillan. The last one in the area was seen by

Stewart MacIntyre and Joe MacLean in 1918. The bear apparently gave

Joe a hell of a scare when they almost met face to face. This old bear later went to Souris Line Road.279 The bears were usually scar— ed of man but they sometimes fed on the farmer's livestock. Some~ times they were not so shy and looked in the windows of houses.

Following are two bear stories about bears in East Point.

Another Bear Story, EXaminer, July 10,1888

The largest bear ever shot at East Point was a few days ago by Mr. R.N. MacDougald (Sic) of East Lake. Bruin had been feasting on spring lamb, etc., for several days, and finally the neighbours turned out and hunted the intruder down to a point where the Lake was on one side and the North shore on the other. Men were stationed in various positions, and the bear, seeing that his escape was cut off, made a dash for a solitary grove of bushes.

Mr. MacDougald having his shotgun charged with three slugs, and being in a position about fifty yards from the fleeing culprit, raised his piece and fired, one slug hitting him in the ear and the other back of the shoulder opposite

the heart. The animal gained the woods, but there dropped

dead. 280

The history of Kingsboro written by Deacon Scott around

1894 recounted a second bear story.

At East Point Mr. James Beaton had occassion to pass through a bush, not far from his home. In it, he found

a lamb partly eaten but not quite dead. He knew it was

a bear's work and (he) must still be busy. He acquainted his neighbours of the circumstances. They gathered and surrounded the bush and drove the bear out... He crossed the road and made for the shore getting down under the cliff and the hunters were before him on every side.

When he saw that he was pinned he took to the sea, and pointed for Cape Breton. But his pursers did not give

up the chase but got a boat and followed him. They over- took him about three miles off. He turned towards them determined to make bottle with them but Capt. James Mac Donald went to the bow of the boat, waited until the bear was near enough and gave him the contents of his blunderbfiss.