Thursday, November 21, 1968
BEAR
Richwood News Leader Editor Bronson McClung tells of Ed Buck’s encounter with a bear in Pocahontas while he was bow hunting recently. Mr. Buck, a well-known naturalist, is the father of our 4-H Agent, Ellsworth Buck.
Richwood Mayor Ed Buck has his problems – broken sewers, broken street pavement, barking dogs. It is almost enough to drive the man back to teaching school, and to make it even more distressing, there is no escape from the problems.
Like last week when he slipped off to do a little bow hunting, he had a run-in with a mother and her three children.
Even though Ed has been mayor for only a few weeks, he has learned that it is almost impossible to win an argument with a woman and that the best thing even a mayor can do is to keep his mouth shut and listen.
This is about what Ed did last week when he ran into a she bear and three children up near Barlow Top in the national forest.
This is how Ed tells the story.
The time was about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday; he was out for some bow hunting hoping to kill a deer. In addition to his bow and supply of arrows, he carried a hunting knife. Guns are not permissible when bow hunting. He was on a “stand” near Barlow Top, about one and one-half miles from the end of the new Highland Scenic Highway. His perch was upon a tree trunk which made his stand “about head high.” It was quiet. With his foot or some other part of his body, Ed cracked a stick and the noise immediately brought a 200-pound mother bear charging at him.
In addition to the mother, there were two yearlings which he estimated to weigh about 72 pounds each and a cub which would probably tip the scales at 25 pounds. When he first saw the family, mother and children were about 40 yards away and Ed believes he saw the bears before they saw him. The noise gave him away and brought the charge by the mother who came to within about eight or 10 feet of him and stopped. He thinks the reason she stopped was that she was disturbed because of his advantage in height.
Ed was posed in battle position with his chief defensive weapon. An arrow was placed on the bow string; he did not draw, waiting for her to come closer.
It was evident the mother was excited, mad, bothered and frightened. After she halted her charge, Ed says she stood and stared at him for what seemed like five minutes or more. Then she backed off a bit but charged right back to her staring position. All the time she was growling and grunting and bellowing.
Meanwhile, the yearlings had taken safety in nearby trees. Ed doesn’t know where the cub went, but as the mother bear began her second retreat, she saw the cub scampering around on the ground, and she let out a very stern growl, which Ed says was a reprimand to the cub for not taking to a tree and safe cover during the encounter.
Ed says this is the second family of bears he has run upon during his lifetime. The other time he was not charged upon, however.
Ed Buck has been hunting for more than half a century. He has killed just about every game animal known on the north American continent under the most varied conditions. Thee years ago he killed a huge bear in Alaska.
None of his kills or safaris have been any more exciting than his run-in with the mother and her three offspring last week. There is no way to describe the thrill, the tingling sensation, the chill which ran from the tip of his toes to the hair on his head as he stood poised, with his lowly bow and arrow, to defend his life against the charging bear.
Overseas Packages
The Swago Home Demonstration Club sent twenty “ditty bags” to service boys in Viet Nam. The members sewed the utilitarian, heavy denim bags, which were filled with useful articles, some donated by businesses and members and some purchased by the Club. The Club also paid the postage.
One young man thanked the club particularly for a face washcloth, the first he or his buddies had had since he had been in Viet Nam. They passed it around. Saturday, the Swago Club bought 42 washcloths for the group. Another boy mentioned the paperback books – the first reading matter he had had. Following is one of the many letters received. This one is from the son of George Price Adkison, Rising Sun, Maryland, formerly of Buckeye.
Dear Members:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the unique and thoughtful package I received today. I say unique, because I have seen several packages sent to men in my detachment from organizations such as yours, but never have I seen such a unique and thoughtful package as this one. The thoughtfulness displayed in the choice and assortment of such useful items is remarkable. Even the paperback book is of fine choice and I am sure I will enjoy it immensely. I assure you the items you have sent me are well appreciated and all will be used.
A package from the folks back home to the men over here gives them cause, and cause is what we are all searching for.
Your Friend,
SP-4 George David Adkison
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Lee Bond, of Cass, a son, named Sheldon Lee.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jewel Walton, of Hillsboro, a daughter named Robin Marlene.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Edgar Baumgras, of Marlinton, a daughter, named Kristine Ann.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. June David McLaughlin, of Minnehaha Springs, a son, named Timothy Lee.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Michael Hise, of Hot Springs, Virginia, a daughter, named Julia Ann.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman McLaughlin, of Takoma Park, Maryland, a daughter, named Pamela Ruth.
Born to Airman and Mrs. John Robinson, of San Antonio, Texas, a daughter, named Shelley Ann.
DEATHS
Patrick H. Perry, 44, of Baltimore, Maryland, formerly of Auto, was killed instantly November 13, while working on a construction job on the Kennedy Memorial Building in Washington, D. C. He was a son of Mrs. Gertrude Perry and the late William F. Perry. Burial in the Woodland Presbyterian Church cemetery at Auto.
Miss Mattie L. Wheeler, of Baltimore, Maryland, a daughter of the late Rev. Rufus and Agnes Moore Wheeler; and cousin of Mrs. Lura Brill and Mrs. Mabel Hudson. Burial in Riverview Cemetery at Strasburg.
Anton Cragel, 77, of Youngstown, Ohio; born December 24, 1891, in White Russia; father of Mrs. Ward (Mary) Kelley, of Huntersville. Burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Calm O. Akers, 68, of Rogers, Ohio, was found drowned in a strip mine lake Sunday, apparently having fallen in while coon hunting Thursday night. Hundreds joined in the search after his coon hound returned without him. Born in Marlinton, a son of William and Melvina Curry Akers. Burial in Lisbon Cemetery.
