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282:. Eaton family members contacted American lumberjacks and other irregulars in the area, and an informal guard was deployed. On New Year's Eve, the New Brunswick woodcutters returned, and were promptly ordered to leave by the Eaton guard. Shouting began, and both sides drew firearms and prepared to fire. As this was occurring, however, a group of three Canadian lumberjacks were unexpectedly attacked by a
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defending a small nearby cub. Though black bears are native to the area, they typically hibernate by that time of year, confusing the experienced outdoorsmen. The lumberjacks were able to shoot and kill the bear, but not before two of them suffered injuries. The
Americans, assuming the shots were
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ordered the local militia to the site to arrest the "unruly wood thieves" in
February 1839. The Canadian lumbermen responded by seizing the Maine Land Agent, and an international incident was sparked. Tensions remained high, with several arrests on both sides, until the
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each wished to harvest wood to the exclusion of their competitors from across the border, and by
December 1838, competition coupled with fierce national pride led both sides to carry weapons for their own protection.
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directed at them, fired several shots in retaliation. Though none of the
Canadians were actually hit by fire, this coupled with the bear attack caused them to withdraw from the area.
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December 29, 1838, New Brunswick lumberjacks were spotted felling trees on the estate that had formerly belonged to
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was valued for logging, and tensions over which government owned the territory in the vicinity of the
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1 black bear killed by
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was a minor and ultimately bloodless skirmish between U.S. and
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Canadian lumberjacks flee area after bear attack and opposing gunfire from Eaton guard
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News of the encounter quickly spread to both sides. In Maine, Governor
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flared during the winter of 1838–39. Lumberjacks from both
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304:signed August 9, 1842, finally settled the issue.
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214:2 wounded by black bears during confrontation
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362:Battles and conflicts without fatalities
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245:Background
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