Assorted stories Bear Story (1833)
Bear Story (1833)
THE BEST BEAR STORY
Royal Gazette, August 13, 1833
On Saturday night the 3rdinst. Mr. Roderick MacDonald, of Norrie’s Pond, was severely injured by a bear.Having information that he was in pursuit of some sheep, MacDonald went outaccompanied by a person of the mane of MacAulay, with his gun loaded with swanshot; when within a few paces of the prowler, he fired and lodged the contentsof his musket in his body, form the effects of which he fell. He thought heshould now have no trouble to dispatch him, ran up and struck him with an axe, butbefore he gave a second blow, he wrested that weapon from his hand and threw itto some distance. He was now in the power of bruin singlehanded, who madeseveral attempts to seize him by the throat, and it was only by getting hold ofhis ears, he extricated himself from his desparate embrace.
The bear now endeavoured to make off,but MacDonald getting hold of a longer from the fence renewed the fight—he struck him two or three times, thelonger breaking at each blow; having a small peice only left in his hand, heendeavoured to thrust it down his throat, but missing his aim hfe again fellagainst the bear, who made evry effort to seize upon him in the vital parts,and it was merely by putting his hand in his mouth which was bittendesperately, that he was prevented.
After struggling for some time with hissavage antagonist, he succeeded in getting again hold of his ears, by whichmeans he ws relieved from his fangs. After this rescue he was covered withblood from the top of his head to his feet, which proceeded from his own woundsand those of the bear. It seems unaccountable how MacAulay could have remainedquiet during this frightful contest and not rendr assistance. MacDonald calledto him several times but he gave him no aid, his excuse afterwards was, that itbeing dark, he was as likely to strike MacDonald as the bear. AlthoughMacDonald was dreadfully mangled, we are happy to say he is in a fair way ofrecovery. A pursuit was made after the bear by a number of the neighbours, butit raining during the night they lost all trace of his path.