Penobscot’s First Bear Story

By Steve Pinkham

Scarcely had the beast’s feet landed in the tracks which I had so kindly vacated for them, when the dog, executing a skillful flank movement, fell suddenly on his rear, with a fury which completely turned his attention from myself and gave me ample time to ascend the tree, from the summit of which I watched the combat below.

This is the first of two bears stories that Penobscot, the pseudonym used by a local Bangor woodsman and hunter, submitted to Forest and Stream in 1878. Our first story, “Two Bear Stories–No 1.,” was published in the May, 16th issue.

“During my first winter in the woods I officiated as cook to a small crew employed by my father. Coming into camp one afternoon to cook supper, I was aroused by the well-known voice of “Old Tigress,” a large, black slut, famed as a “moose dog” throughout that whole region. Going up to her, I caught sight of a lot of freshly picked boughs sticking out of the hole.

I stepped up to the tree and boy like, thrust the muzzle of my gun into the mouth of the den and pulled the trigger. It was a very cold day in December, but I never saw an animal less dormant that that bear! With one movement of his powerful hind legs, he stood before me, one of the largest bears ever seen in that country. Coming so suddenly into the strong light seemed at first to blind him, and he stood for a moment motionless, winking incessantly. As his vision cleared, he caught sight of me, and laying back his ears and opening a capacious mouth well garnished with yellow teeth, with a snort like a puff, of a locomotive, the seemingly unwieldly animal bounded at me with the lightness of a cat. With a leap that I can truly say was for life, I placed nearly the same distance between us, as that which first separated us, and, dropping my gun, spring to the foot of a scrubby spruce close at hand, and began to ascend it with all possible dispatch. Fortunately for myself I was not pursued.

Scarcely had the beast’s feet landed in the tracks which I had so kindly vacated for them, when the dog, executing a skillful flank movement, fell suddenly on his rear, with a fury which completely turned his attention from myself and gave me ample time to ascend the tree, from the summit of which I watched the combat below. After expending his fury in a score of vain attempts to get the dog into his power, he desisted, and, walking toward the den, actually endeavored to reenter it. Being again attacked by the dog, he turned and once more drover her back, and then suddenly retreated into the forest, closely followed by her tormentor.

As they disappeared, I descended from my perch, and, picking up my gun, proceeded to reload. I soon overtook him. He turned continually to drive back the dog, which of course rendered his progress slow. When I started, I had made up my mind to advance within twenty feet of the monster so as to deliver a fatal shot. But the thought obtruded itself as I came in sight of the huge beast, that my gun might misfire. Turning to drive back the dog, he came within thirty paces of me. As he turned broadside to me to continue his retreat, I delivered the charge full at his right shoulder. The heavy coat of hair and the thick layer of fat arrested the shot before they could penetrate to a mortal depth; but they wounded him quite severely and roused him to a pitch of fury impossible to describe.

I instantly sprung for the nearest tree, and although the dog could not prevent him reaching the tree, she did hinder him from making any attempt to seize me. Being defeated, the contest ended as before.

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