A BEAR AND WOLF HUNT - Some seventy years ago, when I was a mere boy, the citizens of Freedom, Portage County, and adjoining townships engaged in what was then known as the "Great Hunt." Freedom was then almost an unbroken forest, which extended even beyond its limits. Near the center was a dense swamp of many acres, furnishing a fine rendezvous for bears and wolves. The depredations of these very much annoyed the few settlers, as also those of Winham, Charlestown, Shalersville, and Hiram, surrounding townships. To exterminate these pests, they agreed upon a certain day, when they came with rifles, shotguns, cowbells, tin horns and various other weapons, and surrounded the great woods. I well remember how they passed my father's house in Charlestown, ringing their bells and blowing horns to frighten the animals, keep themselves in line and within proper distance of each other, so no game might escape. As they approached the swamp, the deer were allowed to pass through the lines, but bears and wolves making such attempt were shot down. Most of these, however, sought safety in the swamp, where twenty-three of the former and two score of the latter, if my memory serves me, were killed, brought together, and their scalps turned over to the authorities, for the bounties offered. No bears were seen in the vicinity after that, and the few wolves remaining did but little damage. S W. James, Ashtabula, O.