THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 73 



him in the soft earth but not speedily enough to get 

 in a shot ahead of young Slutterbeck. 



It was the first bear to be seen in the valley for a 

 long time. Center County Reporter, (1916.) 



* * * * * 

 Boy Alone In Woods Kills 503-lb. Bruin 



14-Year-Old Hunter Calmly Fires Five Shots While 

 Bear Rears and Roars 



Special Dispatch to The North American 



SMETHPORT, PA., Nov. 17. The king sheep-killing 

 "bear of McKean County is dead, five shots from a 

 .44 rifle in the hands of Edward Griffith, a 14-year-old 

 old Smethport boy, putting an end to the raider's life. 



Griffith was visiting at the home of his uncle, Jerry 

 McCarty, who lives on a farm one mile West of this 

 place, and when the latter told the members of his 

 family, in the presence of Griffith, that he had seen 

 bear tracks in the woods near his home, the young lad 

 became greatly excited. He asked his uncle to allow 

 him to go hunting for bears, but his uncle refused, 

 fearing for the lad's safety. Later in the day the lad 

 secured the uncle's consent and started for the woods 



He was in the woods but a few minutes when he 

 sighted a big bruin. Lifting his rifle, he fired. The 

 animal raised on his hind feet and roared. Griffith 

 never flinched, but stood stock still and pumped four 

 more bullets into the monster. 



Griffith's uncle, who had heard the shots from his 



