Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 37 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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Kills Three with 'Sticks and Stones'
Herewith more echoes from the pages of "The Evening Citizen", October 31, 1929; under the heading Old Time Stuff: KILLED THREE BEARS WITH AN ELM CLUB
Archie Fairbairn of the well known Fairbairn family, north of Wakefield, is credited by Mr. Robert Earle, with having performed a bear killing extraordinary some 70 years ago, or about 1859. Mr. Fairbairn is alleged to have killed three bears all within a few minutes and all without the use of a gun. The bears were all killed with an elm stick. The circumstances were these.
When the pioneers came to the district north of Wakefield they discovered a bear and deer run from the mountains to the west to a ford a short distance north of Wakefield. Hunters used to frequent this "run" at various points to get both bears and deer.
Archie Fairbairn when about 25 years of age, tried another method of getting bear. He had ascertained that a bear in water is more or less helpless as far as attack is concerned. He took advantage of this fact by watching till he saw three bears enter the stream from the east side. Then he grabbed up a stone and a heavy elm stick or club and waded out to meet them.
He waited at a point where he could get full play for his arms but where the swimming bear would still have its legs off the bottom. As the first bear reached that point of the ford and made to attack, Mr. Fairbairn brought his club heavily down on the bear's head, killing it. The same operation was repeated successfully on the other two on-coming bears, and in a few minutes there had been accomplished one of the most remarkable bear-taking feats ever heard of in those parts."