The Cooper Rifle and a little Canadian history

[sapper740]

From my Grandfather's book:

"Probably in the Spring of 1842, a minor event made a record in local history. Big game had disappeared from Prince Edward County before the persistent attacks of the pioneers, armed with their old Army flint-locks and later acquired guns. Boundary waters deterred new arrivals of the larger animals.
And now a bear was sighted in Mastin's swamp, on the West Lake road, near a saw mill about a mile from the William's farm. Men and boys appeared, armed with smooth bores and shot guns, but bruin led a charmed life! Then Obadiah Cooper arrived with his famous rifle and advanced quietly toward the bear! Taking careful aim, he fired and bruin fell dead, with a 50 calibre bullet in his brain!
'You couldn't do that again Obe,' said a neighbour. While the bear was being placed with it's head resting on it's paws, Obe loaded the rifle. A measured charge of powder from a flask was poured down the barrel, a lead ball placed on a greased cotton "patch" was driven down onto the powder with the ram-rod, rotating as it followed the rifling, a pinch of powder was placed in the pan under the flint, and all was ready. Placing a new dime over the bullet hole in the bear's head Obe stepped back some fifty paces, sighted the rifle and fired. the dime was driven into the bear's brain!
This is the story as told to me by Uncle Stanley Williams, the general account was well known as 'the killing of the last bear in the county.' "

From time to time I'll post further stories from the book relating interesting stories from the early history of Prince Edward County. Thanks to all for reading these posts, I'm very proud of my heritage and the part, albeit small, my family played in turning Canada from a "howling wilderness" to the modern country it is today.

Cheemo!

Derek Heuring