Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler | Page 2

to obtain
coonskins and other furs. Father said that one night grandfather and
Orin Loomis were out hunting coons with the dogs, having taken their
axes to chop down coon trees, but no guns, when they found a bear, on
a small island, in the middle of a swamp. But I find his bear story so
well told in the "Wadsworth Memorial" that I will quote from that:
"In the fall of 1823, as Butler and Loomis were returning after midnight
from one of their hunts, and had arrived within a mile or two of home it
was noticed that the dogs were missing. Presently a noise was heard,
far back in the rear.
"'Hark! What was that?' said Loomis. They listened awhile, and agreed
it was dogs, sure.
"'Orr, let's go back,' said Butler.
"'No, it is too late,' answered Loomis.
"'But,' said Butler, 'I'll warrant the dogs are after a bear; don't you hear

old Beaver? It sounds to me like the bark of old Beaver when he is after
a bear.'
"Butler was bound to go back, and so they started. The scene of the
disturbance was finally reached, after traveling two or three miles. The
dogs had found a bear; but it was in the middle of Long Swamp, and
the alders were so thick that there was scarcely room for man, dog or
bear to get through. This did not deter Phin. Butler, however. They got
near enough to find that the bear was stationed on a spot a little drier
than the main swamp, surrounded by alder bushes, and that she was
determined not to leave it. The dogs would bay up close, when the old
bear would run out after them. They would retreat, and then she would
run back to her nest again.
"'We can't kill her to-night,' said Loomis, 'we will have to go home and
come down again in the morning.'
"'No,' replied Butler, 'I am afraid she will get away. We can kill her
to-night, I guess. You can go and hiss on the dogs on one side, and I
will come up on the other; and when she runs out after them, I'll cut her
back-bone off with the ax.'
"They concluded to try this plan, and came very near succeeding. As
the old bear rushed past, Butler put the whole bit of the ax into her back,
but failed to cut the back-bone by an inch or two. Enraged and
desperate, she sprang upon the dogs, who, emboldened by the presence
of their masters, came too close. With one of her enormous paws she
came down on old Beaver, making a large wound in his side, which
nearly killed him. He was hardly able to crawl out of the swamp.
"The fight was then abandoned until morning, as without Beaver to
lead the dogs it was useless to proceed. It was difficult to get the old
dog home, but he finally got well. Early in the morning the hunters
were on the ground. This time they had their guns with them, but found
the old bear was gone. On examining her nest of the night before, her
unusual ferocity was explained. She had a litter of cubs, which,
however, she had succeeded in removing, and must have carried them
off in her mouth. In a short time the dogs had tracked her out. She was

found a half mile lower down the swamp, where she had a new nest.
Butler's rifle soon dispatched her; but her cubs, four in number, and not
more than three or four weeks old, were taken alive, and kept for pets."
Father said that he could remember when they brought the bears home,
growling, snarling--the crossest little things he ever saw.
Strange as it may seem, my father did not inherit grandfather's love for
hunting. I never saw him shoot a gun, and he has never owned one
within my recollection.
Orin Loomis was often heard to say that Phin. Butler was the most
courageous man he ever knew. He was quick-tempered, but
warm-hearted, and full of fun, and as honest and sincere as he was bold
and fearless. One time he was traveling, and stopped at a tavern. The
strangers present were discussing the statement that every man has his
price, and each man was telling what was the least price for which he
would tell a lie. Finally one man said that he would tell a lie for five
dollars. Grandfather's impetuous nature could stand it no longer, and he
burst out scornfully: "Tell a lie! Tell a lie for five dollars! Sell your
manhood! Sell your soul for five dollars! You must rate yourself very
cheap!" And then, they said, he fairly preached them a sermon on the
nobility of perfect