A BEAR HUNT IN GEORGIA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 188, 3 November 1876, Page 14

A BEAR HUNT IN GEORGIA.

++ The town was made livelier for a time on "Wednesday afternoon last than for many months previous by the report that a bear had been seen at Mitchell's pond. Every man who could secured a horse and started for the designated spot. The bear was first discovered by Mrs. Burnett, near their residence. Word was promptly sent to Mr. Mitchell, who repaired thither, first sending for Judge Hopkins and his dogs. Arriving, he found bruin still on hand, and with some of the workmen about the mill soon had him surrounded. This kind of reception, however, did not suit his bearship, and he decided to seek other quarters. Swimming the pond, closely followed by Mr. Mitchell on horseback, he made off in the direction of Mr. Mitchell's new ground field. Shortly afterward the Judge arrived, and put the dogs on the trail. Though their first scent of a bear, they " opened " with as much delight as if on the track of a fox, and by their continued cry and the encouraging whoops from the Judge, the course of bruin was evident to all within a mile of the chase. Passing through the fields of Messrs. Mitchell and Spears, the bear made for the branch, in Mr. Stripling's field, and thence proceededlin the directionlof^Adam's mill, crossing the mill road just beyond Mr. Blanton's. He was doubtless trying to reach Mr. Sanford's vineyard, where the pursuers would be more likely to slack their pace than almost anywhere else, but the yelping dogs "and the din of human voices were too great,and he made for the next branch, which he had just reached when he was overtaken by the dogs and horsemen, and shot by the Judge, who had the only gun in the party. The result of the chase was heralded from one to another, and soon all found their way into the main road, falling in behind the horsemen and forming, perhaps, the largest funeral procession ever witnessed in these parts. Thus victorious and attended the Judge and his party marched into the city, where Bruin -was eagerly inspected by the crowd, weighed, and finally rationed out. The bear was a young one. weighing only 96 pounds, and Avas black.— rnomasville Southern Enterprise/