tales-of-Fogo-Island

The Unexpected VisitorSunday, January 20, 1935 was a typical winter's day. However, the eventsthat were about to unfold would make it a very exciting day in Barr'd Islands.Late that evening, Mr. Eli Combden was walking home from church. It wasdark, but he could find his way by the light of the moon. As he crossed the icein Little Harbour, he felt something jump on his back. At first he thought hisfriends were playing a trick on him. However, when he felt sharp claws tearingat his jacket, he knew that something terrible was happening. He reachedover his shoulder and felt the fur of an animal. It was a polar bear.The man began to panic and tried to get the bear off his back by shaking andjumping, but it was no use. The bear was holding on tightly and would not letgo. Finally, he was able to get away from the bear by backing up against theside of a store. Then, the man ran as fast as he could to a nearby house. Thepeople in the house could not understand what he was saying because hewas out of breath and was almost too upset to talk. After a while, he explainedwhat had happened to him. The men in the community were very concernedfor the safety of others. They knew that something had to be done.Two men, Henry Combden and George Combden crept to their homes to gettheir muzzle loaders. With their guns ready to fire, they walked along theshore in search of the bear. They soon found it lying in the snow beside awharf. Henry took careful aim and pulled the trigger, killing it in seconds. Thenext morning, they skinned the animal and carved up the meat. Although thebear was not large, there was enough meat for everyone in Barr'd Islands. Atthat time of the year, a meal of fresh meat was a rare treat.A while later, local men spotted the tracks of a much larger bear near RoundHead. Some believed these were the tracks of the smaller bear's mother. Toobad it did not stay on the ice floes with her, as this may have kept it out oftrouble. Instead, it gave one Barr'd Islands man the fright of his life.Questions to think and write about:1. Where was the man when the bear attacked him?2. Who shot the bear?