USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bethlehem > The early history of the town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire > Part 4
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Being satisfied that the object of their search could not be far away they found the trail and hurried on, and fortunately they soon found their cows; seemingly contented and apparently none the worse for their wanderings, and the two men returned home with their runaway property and with lighter hearts than when they started at early dawn.
Under the skillful treatment of Mrs. Turner, to the surprise of all concerned, their cow was restored to her former usefulness, yielding her usual amount of milk.
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CHAPTER 9.
THE wild beasts, which at first were shy, grew bolder as they became more and better ac- quainted with the sights and sounds of civiliza- tion. The early settlers not only made good and effectual use of their trusty guns to rid them- selves of those troublesome enemies, but they had a cheap and efficient mode of catching bears in traps.
This trap was in form very much like a figure 4, with the top parts intersecting. It consisted of an upright standard of sufficient length to leave room for the bear to enter. This piece of wood was placed in a perpendicular position on and near the end of a large log. Another
piece was placed, on the top of this upright stand- ard, projecting beyond two feet, more or less; the other end pointing downward at an angle of about 45 degrees, of sufficient length to corres- pond with the general plan of the trap, the end being fashioned wedge-like. A long stick, in the. side of which and near the end a notch was cut,
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in which was placed the lower end of the top- piece of timber. This long stick was placed a- long-side of the upright standard at about half way between its ends at which point a notch was to fit one in the long stick; on the end of this spindle (long stick) the bait was fastened. When all things were made ready they proceeded to set the machine. The framework was put together and held in position by one man, (it requiring more than one to set up a large one,) while another completed the work. This was done by placing one end of a large log on the projecting end of the top piece of timber, the other end resting on the bottom leg, the bait being turned inward, so that the bear could not reach it unless his head was beyond and toward the inside of the two logs, it being so arranged that he could not reach it from the back side.
This trap was sprung by bearing down on the bait sufficiently hard to unfasten the spindle on the upright piece, which the bear would do in re- moving the bait, when the top log would fall on bruin with crushing weight and he be made to suf- the extreme penalty for his reckless disregard of civilization.
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In this way Mr. Turner caught many of his shaggy foes.
In the fall of the year he set one of these traps in the woods near a piece of grain to which his son Timothy, on one fine afternoon was sent to reap. He did as was directed and labored without any interruption until a noise in the woods not far distant, attracted his attention. The heavy tread and cracking of dried branches convinced young Timothy (being a small lad) that a large bear was not many rods distant. His fears were strong, but the necessity of staying to cut the grain was stronger, so he worked and watched till it was time to return to the house which he did much quicker than he had been in the habit of doing, and immediately made a re- port of what he had heard while at work in the field.
The father was satisfied that it was a bear that had made the noise and remembering his plan, started out to investigate, and on reaching the spot he found bruin fast is his trap.
On one oceasion a bear had remained so long in the trap that it could not be disposed of in the usual manner. So Mr. Turner coucluded to give it to his hogs, he having a number of them
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at that time, and he proceeded at once to carry his plan into execution by throwing the meat into the yard where he kept his swine; but, to his astonishment, instead of its- being received with gladness, it disturbed their equanimity. They showed their displeasure, first, by sly looks and low grunts, which increased in dimensions until every hog seemed to be doing his very best to increase the uproar and confusion,-running, jumping, and squealing as if impelled by an un- seen power. Crazed by fright, and mad-frantic from their own unearthly noise-they, as if by mutual agreement, decided to leave that terrible place and bursting through the strong fence that surrounded the enclosure, scattered in all direc- tions.
It was now Mr. Turner's time to be alarmed for the safety of his valuable property, for there was great danger that they might take to the woods and escape beyond the power of recovery, but by much coaxing and labor they were all restored to their proper place and usual quiet- ness again prevailed among the inmates of Mr. Turner's hog-yard.
But one thing is certain, his hogs never had another opportunity to dine on bear meat.
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There is an incident connected with one of his log bear traps which is worth relating, because of the moral lesson it teaches.
An old fox in his ramblings chanced one day to be rusticating in that vicinity and, illured by the tempting bait, he thought it a good time to lunch; so, after closely scrutinizing the locality, his foxship walked leisurely in and helped him- self. The bait being turned so far inward and the fox so much smaller than a bear that when in a position to dine he was beyond harm, being to the one side of the trap. He was enjoying his meal with a good relish when, evidently, the trap was on the point of springing, when seeing the motion of the top log (being on the alert for mis- chief,) he started to retrace his steps and reached the fatal spot just in time to receive the full force of the descending, crushing weight.
Had he quietly remained and finished his re- past he might have left the spot unharmed and with a satisfied appetite have gone on his way rejoicing.
Moral: Acting from impulse, minus judgment, may bring fatal results, and there is such a thing as being too smart.
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CHAPTER 10.
ONE of the many ills to which flesh is heir to, is, methinks, the toothache. Who can describe it, or to what can it be likened ? What language can be found that will truthfully convey the real feelings of the unpleasant sufferer? One who never experienced its effect, both on the mind and body, is not qualified to give an authorized opinion on the subject. As a general rule it has
no respect of person. From the highest officer in the government down to the lowest serf or most degraded beggar, it makes its unwelcome visits sooner or later and on that dreadful occasion the general expression is, "Oh! how my tooth does ache." Sometimes the pain continues as if having no disposition to stop or in no hurry to cease tor- menting its victim, again as if to make haste and bring matters to a speedy close or to try its pow- er in another form the pain comes and goes by jumps. Its effect on different dispositions is tru- ly surprising, for the best of people with a mild and gentle temper may lose their equanimity of
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mind, but what shall be said of the irritable and fractious ? Only this: It certainly makes no visi- ble improvement on their use of language, man- ners or general deportment. It is not for us to investigate the cause of the various kinds and form of toothaches, but only state the fact that Mr. Turner had the toothache in its worst and most perplexing manner, and if he would have the trouble removed by having the diseased part extracted, three conditions must be complied with: a disposition to go, sufficient time in which to go, and then to go and have it taken out.
The point of time in which everything was in readiness for the operation was in the middle of the night, and surely the aspect seemed gloomy enough - toothache within and inky darkness without-which circumstances did not conspire to make him hopeful, or his prospective journey cheerful or pleasant.
Taking a blazing torch, to prevent his losing his way, he was soon on his mission, the object- ive point being a house on West Hill, where re- sided a man who sometimes acted the part of the dentist. His instruments were of the most ap- proved ancient style, the modern instruments in dentistry not being in use.
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The torch which Mr. Turner carried was not only of service to him in directing his footsteps but it kept the wild inmates of the forest at a proper distance. So deep was the darkness that his glaring light hardly penetrated the thick gloom, beyond his immediate presence. The movement of the light showed that though care- ful as he endeavored to be, he would frequently step from the path to one side or the other, and its unsteady motion revealed the fact that the toe of his boot now and then came in contact with some unseen obstacle-a protruding stump of some small sapling or treacherous projecting root.
Under these vexed circumstances our hero was slowly but surely making progress westward with that mental activity natural to one in like condi- tion, his thoughts and feelings occasionally finding vent in expressions like the following: "How my tooth aches ! hope I shall find him at home." Just at this moment an inquisitive owl, perched on an old stub in close proximity, being disturb- ed in his midnight reveries by the glaring torch and, as if catching the last words of the in- truder-"find him at home!"-and curious to know who this "him " was with whom this stran-
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ger could have business at the hour of midnight, unceremoniously disturbed the pervading solem- nity of the night by making the forest echo, "Who, who, who, who!"
This night bird continued to repeat his saucy question, while Mr. Turner as persistently refused to notice the interrogator, his mind being fixed on his aching tooth and the dentist.
In due time the inmates of a dwelling on West Hill were disturbed in the midst of pleasant dreams by a loud rap on the door. Fortunately, the Doctor was at home, and in a few minutes the aching tooth was removed, root and branch, and Mr. Turner returned home in season to get a pleasant morning nap.
CHAPTER II.
ALTHOUGH Mr. Turner was successful generally in his various undertakings, accumulating con- siderable property, yet in some things he was unfortunate.
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He bought the land on which he settled, and paid for it, but subsequently it was ascertained that his title was worthless and, not wishing to change his place of residence, he paid for his farm the second time.
We refer to one more instance of a like kind, showing his financial misfortunes. The idea of making a turnpike road through Bethlehem was conceived, it being clearly seen that for years a large business would be transacted between the merchants at Portland, Maine, and the people of northern New Hampshire and eastern part of the Green Mountain State, and that the many teams necessarily engaged in carrying the trade would most naturally find their way through this town, and subsequent events proved the correctness of this idea. 1
To carry out the plan of making Bethlehem a great thoroughfare of business a company was legally formed-or it had that appearance to the outside world-and Mr. Turner took the job of building a part of this turnpike. He built it ac- cording to contract, hiring help to the amount of two hundred dollars, but the expense incurred by him in constructing the road the company
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never paid one cent,-having lost its identity, if ever bad any real existence.
The amount lost by a worthless title to his land and his expense in constructing the turnpike was a great misfortune to Mr. Turner, for let it be remembered that the loss of a few hundred dollars in those days and under difficult circum- stances was much greater than the loss of a like sum at the present time.
Mr. Turner ended his earthly pilgrimage in Bethlehem at the age of 73 years, on the farm where he made his settlement in 1790. He was father of Timothy P. Turner, a much esteemed citizen who represented the town in the councils of State, being father of Mr. James N. Turner, the proprietor of a pleasant summer boarding house situated on the old homestead farm.
In June, 1803, an accident occurred that brought feelings of sadness to the whole town. Isaac Batchellor and Aaron Kenney were shing- ling a barn on what is known as the Lot Wood- bury farm, now occupied by Harrison Sawyer. While at work another man came on the roof, and the additional weight thereby caused the staging to give way, precipitating the three per- sons to the ground. The visitor and Mr. Kenney
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were not dangerously injured,-catching hold of some parts of the staging in their descent the force of the concussion was lessened. Mr. Bach- ellor was not so fortunate. ' With no impediment to obstruct his descent he fell on the rocks below with great force.
Dr. Burns of Littleton, was sent for in great haste, but on his arrival at the place of disaster he found the unfortunate man had breathed his last.
There was one incident that added solemnity to the presence of death.
While the men were busy at their work there was a rapidly gathering storm in the far off west- ern sky, a long black mass of rising clouds skirted the distant horizon; peal on peal of cracking, rolling thunder moved in all its native grandeur, amid the distant storm, while the vivid lightning played its wild fantastic part in the general con- fusion of waring elements, assuming an appear- ance of vast sheets of fire, as it moved in a ser- pentine manner along the angry billowy pile. Nearer and nearer came the shower, quicker and heavier feil the descending hammers, while the grand old forest awake to the increasing interest of the moment, sent back its echoes with increas-
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ing rapidity. At this juncture the staking broke and with fatal results.
About the time Mr. Batchellor breathed his last the storm burst on the solemn scene in all the wild fury of a mountain shower. Death within the dwelling, with its ghastly form, com- bined with the noise of the roaring raging ele- ments without, all conspired to make the scene a fearful and impressive one.
Thus the living were brought face to face with that great mystery so much alike to all mankind.
The educated and illiterate, alike, gaze earnest- ly and wishfully (as they stand on the border of the known,) towards the boundless unknown be- yond, with doubtful forebodings, and the mystery is no nearer solved than it was before. While reason and revelation only comparatively reduces the darkness into twilight, enabling man to quite distinctly discern some essential features of a fu- ture life, there are very many things which we would be glad to learn that are veiled by impen- etrable blackness.
Isaac Batchellor is no more; but his good char- acter and worthy deeds are a lasting monument of his unselfishness and high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. He was father
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of Stillman Batchellor, who died in Bethlehem, and who was the father of Albert Batchellor, a. rising young lawyer in his profession, now lo- cated in Littleton, N. H.
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CHAPTER 12.
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THE liability to be lost in the woods was greater in those early days than now. Even the most experienced in woodcraft and accustomed for many long years to a forest life, would some- times find themselves so bewildered in the bow- ers of nature as to be unable to discern the four cardinal points of the compass, mistaking one for the other, believing that every stream of water they saw run exactly the reverse from what it really did. Men who would have laughed at the idea of being lost where they felt so well ac- quainted and were so much at home, found them- selves so entangled that they could not be extri- cated without outside aid.
We will relate an instance of that kind.
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Bruin was very much annoyed at his future prospects, for civilization was rapidly destroying his cherished home, driving him further and fur- ther away from his delightful, chosen retreat; taking from him, by force, the land and forests to which he had an undoubted title by rightful inheritance. But the cool, calculating brain of man was too much for the instinctive power of his noble bearship; he saw the constantly increas- ing number of the invading foe without being able to preventit. This he could do, and did, shared with them their crops, lambs, and whatever else could be of use to him, thus making the bold intruder pay rent for occupying his majesty's beautiful, and productive domain.
On the other hand the settlers claimed the right to all of nature's vast and delightful ground, and the right to cultivate where, and as much of the same as they chose; and not only this but to catch and kill every bear, great and small, that they could. This state of feelings caused an un- ceasing warfare between the parties interested which would most surely end in the almost en- tire extermination of the shaggy beasts.
A man by the name of John Bemis who re- s.ded in Littleton, in what is now known as the
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Towne's neighborhood, had a piece of growing corn to which a bear took a great liking, and he went about the work of securing by stealth his part of the golden kernel before its harvest time.
Mr. Bemis soon discovered the plot, and at once determined to punish, if possible, the dar- ing thief; for the selfish creature showed no dis- position to make a fair division of the much de- sired treasure, but on the contrary seemed in- clined to appropriate it all to his own use. Ac- cordingly, he so arranged a trap that he was quite positive ere long he could bring old bruin to summary punishment, he having already been tried and convicted, the only remaining part of the programme being to catch and kill him.
Everything was now ready to carry his plan in- to execution. Mr. Bemis went to and from his trap, but found no prisoner. Bruin continued to visit the corn-field about his accustomed business, regardless of what his bitter foe might think or do. But the monotony of the general aspects of affairs was suddenly broken. One morning as usual, Mr. Bemis went to look at his trap and found that it was gone. The truth at once flashed across his mind; the trap had done its part of
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the work faithfully, but the fastenings had not been made sufficiently strong, and the bear had escaped taking it along with him.
The neighbors were soon informed of the true state of things and having a common interest in the matter, they unhesitatingly agreed to make it a common cause and to go immediately in search of the culprit. With Mr. Bemis they soon started on the hunt.
This was on the morning of October 9, 1804. Mr. Bemis, not anticipating a long search, started before eating his morning meal, taking with him his little dog and gun, expecting soon to return. Being lame he could not keep up with the rest of the party, and soon finding himself left beyond the other hunters' call took the way that seemed to him the most advisable. From that time he saw no more of his companions until found by them in a sad condition.
The weather signs of the morning were omi- nous of a coming storm. The low distant sound of murmuring thunder was born from afar on a passing breeze, while the distant stifled noise of the restless elements, like some mighty giant putting forth all his strength to free himself from some galling chain, ready to snap asunder at
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every successive attempt to extricate himself, was indistinctly heard from away to the west- ward.
Mr. Bemis moved on ard the clouds continued to thicken as the storm gathered. In a short time the rattling thunder and vivid flash, accom- panied with a heavy fall of rain, was followed by a calm, which showed that the storm had done its work in that locality and passed on its way to visit the mountains. When it ceased to rain the snow began to fall and continued till the ground was covered to the depth of about twelve inches. When the rain began to descend Mr. Bemis sought shelter I eneath some friendly cov- ert and there remained until the calm that fol- lowed the shower; then he again resumed his search and commenced to shout for his compan- ions, but no answer came,-echo being the only reply.
It now became evident to him that he had better return home; having thus decided he commenced as he supposed a homeward journey with his thoughts on the occurrences of the day. He moved on not doubting but what he would reach home in due time in safety, but to his astonishment the coming night began to wrap
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her sable curtains around hilltops and valley, warning him that greater darkness and increas- ing cold would soon surround him. And those loved ones at home were waiting and watching eagerly for his return. He now increased his exertions expecting every moment to hit some familiar spot from whence he could make a start in the right direction, for he now saw that he had lost the points of compass, for had he gone towards home he would have reached it long be- fore that time.
Feeling assured that he did not know what course to follow after a while he concluded to make the best of his unpleasant situation and finding the best shelter that the unfavorable cir- cumstances would allow of, weary and hungry he halted for the night; but being used to the woods he expected to reach home on the mor- row in time to eat an early breakfast with his now anxious family.
With these thoughts he yielded to the impera- tive demands of nature and was lost to his dan- gerous situation in the close embrace of welcom- ed sleep.
Leaving the unfortunate man unconscious of what wastranspiring around him, we turn our
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attention to his friends and neighbors. Hope and fear, each in turn filled his family with con- flicting emotion; the liabilities and probabilities were freely discussed, and the circumstances fa- vorable for and against his safe return were weighed with deep feelings experienced only un- der a like condition of things. While now and then some one of their number would exclaim, "Hark! I hear footsteps; guess he has come." But it was all an illusion born of the wish that it might be so.
Thus the long night of suspense wore slowly away with those anxious ones.
When morning dawned the men in that settle- ment having been informed that Mr. Bemis had not returned to his home, prepared to search for him. Everything being ready the party started for the forest taking dinner horns, dogs and guns. When at a given point the men blew their horns and discharged their guns, which caused the dogs to set up a vigorous and prolonged whining and barking; then separating, as marked out by a previous programme, the search was continued throughout the day, occasionally halting to shout at the top of their voices the name of the lost man, to which was added the sound of horns and
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barking of dogs. This mingling of discordant sounds when blended into one confused mass made the welkin ring with an inde- scribable noise that reached the ears of distant listeners in a wild fantastic manner, disturbing numberless slumbering echoes, frightening wild beasts from their hiding places, and birds of va- rious kinds sought safety on the wing as if con- scious of some impending danger. At nightfall they all returned home with sorrowful hearts to report that their efforts to find Mr. Bemis had proved a failure.
Hope, that bright angel of mercy that hitherto had been a constant companion with the discon- solate and afflicted family, whispered words of cheer and brighter anticipations; thus, to some extent, lessening the sadness of the hour, now ceased to be regarded, its soothing voice being lost in the thickening darkness of fear that per- vaded their hearts and with which the very at- mosphere seemed to be impregnated.
We now return to Mr. Bemis who, when day- light appeared, came from the place where he had stayed the previous night. Faint with hun- ger and worn with the labor and excitement of the preceding day, he started with his faithful
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dog, as he supposed in a homeward direction, but on reaching the Ammonoosac River he dis- covered his mistake; and he was still farther de- ceived in thinking the river before him was John's River, and that it ran in the opposite di- rection from what it really did.
This was a fatal mistake, for had he followed the stream downward he would soon have found the abode of man; but in going up the river he penetrated deeper and deeper into the forests of Bethlehem. He spent the day in wandering and resting and when night came on he was still be- yond the reach of human aid, and seating him- self beneath the friendly branches of the nearest tree he went to sleep. Thus ended the second day of his absence from home.
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