Thursday, December 1, 1898
In November, Paris Hammond, second son of Jesse Hammond, of Williams River, killed three large bears in about three seconds, with three shots of a thirty-eight Winchester. He came on them in the woods, one she bear and two large male bears. This was very remarkable as male and female bears are not found together, as a rule, after August. Hammond shot the old she and then the other two before they could get away. The three bears lay dead within three rods of each other.
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When you want to know anything, ask the editor of your local paper. He is as good as an encyclopedia and always gives full information. Here is one instance: A subscriber sent him this query: “What ails my hens? Every morning, I find one or more of them keeled over. What shall I do for them?”
The answer was: “The fowls are dead. It is an old complaint and nothing can be done except to bury them.”
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For ten years, there has not been such a destructive stormy visitation in the United States as occurred November 26, when the suddenness of its coming, the sweep of territory and the obstructive and destructive damage are all considered.
FOOTBALL GAME AT FROST
About hog-killing time every year, the Marlinton football team has a try at the noble game with some neighboring aggregation of players. This year, a game was set for November 26, at Frost, altho the goose-bone prognosticators and the United States Weather Bureau announced a storm advancing from the east, which really did centre at Philadelphia two days previously, where two teams played a “brutal football game” – not on account of ferocious teamwork, for the men could not play hard enough to keep up circulation, but because of the cold and wet and slippery ground.
At Frost, there was about three inches of light snow, and the teams got to work at 2 o’clock. The ground had a decided slope, but a constant wind was blowing up the slope and the Marlinton team chose to play with the wind at their backs. It was very noticeable that the players kept their feet with difficulty, and the larger the man the less secure was his pride. It was risky to attempt anything brilliant, and the smallest and weakest members of the visiting team carried most of the honors for their side.
After 19 minutes play, during which time Douglas McNeill scored one goal for Marlinton, the wind and snow came on to blow great guns, and it was impossible for a man to distinguish his neighbor at ten paces. The ball was lost and the game adjourned sine die. The hurricane lasted 15 minutes, then the players, spectators returned to the field and finished the remaining 71 minutes of play, during which time, Slaven made another goal in the first half, and after the teams changed, and Yeager, by long runs of more than half the length of the field, scored two successive goals for Marlinton.
During the second half, Frost played all about the Marlinton goal, and it was only the admirable work of the goalkeeper, Calvin Price, that saved the day. The ball was kicked out no less than 20 times, but was finally pushed through, and another goal was added by Aaron Sharp, just three minutes before time was called. The teams broke up with mutual cheers, to which were added three by the spectators for both teams.
The Frost team is as fine an athletic body of men as one could wish to see. There are eight kinsmen by the name of Sharp on it. Their total weight aggregate 1,927 pounds. Their opponents netted 1,596 pounds in their boots. After the game, the men relaxed training, and a most convivial evening was spent at Mrs. Williams’ excellent hotel.