THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 29 



In his younger days, Mr. Grimes was an expert 

 Greco-Roman wrestler, as miany a conceited raftsman 

 and lumberjack have learned, when Edwin, accepted 

 a challenge and standing up, face to face, with collar 

 and elbow in each others grasp, quickly sent his an- 

 tagonist's heels flying high, and shoulders to the 

 ground, five points touching the soil on the instant of 

 relaxation of muscles, caused by the jar of so force- 

 ful concussion a's the landing shock. "Beau" Gould, 

 the Hinsdale wrestler, has said : 



"Edwin Grimes was the only man that I never 

 succeeded in laying upon his back, at least, sometimes, 

 in a wrestling bout." 



As a rafting pilot on the Allegheny he had no 

 superior, either redman or white, and the services of 

 Edwin Grimes were always in demand for the fast- 

 running rafts of "pig-iron," (Green hemlock logs of 

 lumber, cut in Winter and milled with bark on), 

 which being heavier than pine, slid down the water 

 decline more rapidly ; and were more likely to turn 

 edgewise when they struck a rock or an island, mak- 

 ing total wreckage. 



When rafting on the Allegheny declined, Edwin 

 Grimes peeled much hemlock, as contractor for tan- 

 ners a'nd lumbermen, among whom he was accounted 

 trustworthy, reliable and energetic, a worthy and hon- 

 orable citizen, an honest man. Leroy Lym'an was a 

 Republican, and they were rival hunters of bear and 

 deer, so much good- fellowship existed between them, 

 and sometimes bordering upon truculence. Mr. Ly- 



