In the days of the first settlers of Noble Township, Defiance County, a mighty hunter by the name of Sullivan lived over in the section known as the "marsh", on the Williams and Defiance county line.
A friend in New York City, wrote to Sullivan and offered him $5.00 each for two live bear cubs. It so happened that Sullivan knew of an old she bear who had den with two cubs, in a huge sycamore snag. Money was scarce and Sullivan was fearless, so he decided to get the cubs.
There was no opening at the bottom of the snag, so Sullivan climbed a sapling that leaned over against the opening at the top of the sycamore tree. Now the tree was just right width at the top for him to lower himself by extending his arms and gradually working down to the base and the cubs.
The trunk widened abruptly some feet from the top and Sullivan unable to save himself, fell on the cubs, the little bears immediately complained of such treatment and the old bear feeding in a nearby thicket, heard their cries and decided to come to their aid.
The old bear had to climb the sapling and come down backwards. In the meantime Sullivan had tucked each cub into a great pocket of his hunting coat and waited the descent of the mother bear.Down she came with a great scrambling and scattering of rotten wood. Sullivan seized her by the long hair on her haunches and loudly cried
"Hoosh, Hoosh, hey old bear get out of here"! Terrified by the sound of a human voice and the grasping of her haunches. The great beast scrambled up the inside of the hollow snag, dragging with her Sullivan. Who grasping the top of the snag, waited until the old bear disappeared in the forest, then departed for home, with the cuds for which in due time, he received the promised $10.00
No comments:
Post a Comment