New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-23


Lchilds Hsrolds Pilgrimage.
Upon one evening party Of coIlegians and Young
bloods of the town had met together at my room to
play and carouse In fact it was regular meeting
Of the hunters who assembled twice in every week
kept Up o , un o @ saas, having rbsg j. h.
proposed that we should sally forth and astonsb the
town by some well planned and we'll directed piece
Of mischief. Without any of us having q very clear
conception Of actions or intentions we hailed the Pro
position with drunken rapture, and starte ] forth.
A travelling menagere had arrived in town the day
before, and among the wonders it contained was
young bear. The poor animal had been so well
beaten that he became very humble and acquired a
number OF amusing tricks. OF this we were all
aware, having visited the menagerie the day before
Just as we passed the spot where the animals were
confined, it occurred to me what rare sport it would
be to capture poor Brun and place him in the chemi-
cal lecture to astonish the next day the pro-
fessors and the class. -
No sooner had I made proposition to this effect
than it adopted and all volunteered their assist
in carrying it into execution The tent Or pavil
ion which covered the beast was erected in the great
yard Of the principal tavern. The cages, each con-
tanning one or more animals, iron grated boxes,
standing on Wheels by means of which they had been
draw into the town. They were ranged around the
interior of the tent forming circular array of wood
and iron. Not imagining that any would disturb
the animals the showmen and keepers had retired TO
rest along with the inmates Of the tavern leaving the
tents entlrely unWdtc0eQ. linus we were a0Or0eQ
clear field in which to execute our scheme. After
several of our number had been posted sentinels
the rest crept under the canvass and entered the
arena. 1t time before we could in the deep
darkness Of the place. identify the cage in which our
friend Bruin had been placed to Sleep After Stun
bling divers Of things which lay scattered about
and peerng here and there in the dark, we found the
object of our search. There, in substantial cage,
was the dim outline of the animal his two white eyes
flashing drops Of fire at being aroused from his quiet
sumber. s '"t ''S
The next difficulty that occurred to US was the
mode of conveying him to the college, which was
several hundred yards distant Some OF the jewellers
proposed we should throw halter around his neck
and so drag him along We rejected this, not from
any personal fear since had arrived at that point
which makes one obvious of danger, but lest we
should be seen by some late stragger and have our
fun spoiled. A better plan was after much scheming
devised, and one which met with universal acqu
essence. lr -rHa~'. ..I.
In the tavern yard stood a water-hogshead with
sliding lid fastened by means Of hasp or staple. We
had only to roll this in slide down the box from the
wheels, open the door Immediately in front of the
hogshead, and drive the animal in. We could then
push down the lid of the cask secure it by means Of
rope passed throughthe staples and roll our prison
| er and prison house to the college. :
No sooner was this suggested than we fastened
to put it into execution. The cage with united
efforts, slid quietly from the wheels bruin growing
| all the while with anger. The hogshead was rolled
in and placed open and in front Of the cage and the
animal stirred up with our canes. With a terrific
yell he rushed in and closed the lid suddenly down
on him. fastening it at the time in secure man
ner. The yell of the bear had reused the other ami
mails, and our ears were RECALLED for the next ten
minutes with variety of hideous sounds that Weakened
fearfuly the sleeping echoes OF the night The ami
NAL in the hogshead growed, and his voice like
muttering thunder, so deadened was it by the wood
in which he lay His fellows had no encumbrance to
their voices and they howled as clearly as though
they had been in their native forests. NJ
Fearful Of being discovered we remained quiet for
time, holding our breaths in suspense. But no one
disturbed or thought of disturbing US. The animals
often started chorus of strange noises during the
night, and the keepers thinking nothing unusual tc
be the matter merely cursed the unruy beasts for de
stroyng the unity Of their rest, and turning bach
went to sleep again.
| As soon as quiet was restored we slit hole in tn
canyas-for we were afraid to emerge by the aper
ture which faced the tavern-roled hogshea,
through the yard to the back gate which we fasten
ed and then passing into the road started at quic
rate for spot of destination. Over and over wen
the hogshead, the animal within growing at til
rough treatment he experienced, and we nearly cor
vused with laughter at the uncouthness of the nos
; which he made.
At length we reached the back part of the college
when of our party climbed over the wall and NJ
fastened the gate. We rolled in prize to the BAG
, floor of the laboratory, which was the place whel
our professor of chemistry lectured. We found ths
f in consequence of the narrowness of the door til
i hogshead would not enter Such being the case, W
were about to start the animal through the open doc
,
of Somers. Back of the lecture room was sma
apartment containing odds and ends, and which wa
not visited, perhaps, once month. He said rightly
that if we placed Bruin in this apartment he woui(
not likely be discovered until some time during tn
lecture Of the professor, when the noise be would b,
apt to make attracting attention, the plot would re
ally be brought to crisis We joined strength
and upon our shoulders up went the hogshead, unit
! it was placed on level with the window. A ligh
young fellow, the smallest of the party, climbed up
hoised the window, and slid up the lid of the cask
We shook the hogshead violently but at first to M
purpose. The animal was thoroughly frghtend, ant
lay still, with only occasional growl We SHOOK
it again--he started. There was but one possible
mode of progression, which was straight forward
and the brute gave a spring through the window
There was crash of glass; howl, and the terrified
little companion closed the sash and leaped down
We rolled the hogshead up into corner of the yard
and, returning to our rooms, continued our revelry
till near daylight. y..g. d.
Clothes passed wet towel round my head, swallowed
soda water, and afterwards cup of coffee, and
then fastened to the college. 1t was the hour of the
Professor of Chemistry, and entered the room just
| as he had commenced to descant upon the subject
The class all wrapt in attenton-for the lecturer
was an able man, and was treating upon Light as
matter of interest, and capable of beautiful ustra
ton. He had scarcely finished his short and eloquent
eXordium, before We heard crashiof bottles and a
low startling growl in the next room. The professor
| started, and stopped moment while those of the
class not in the secret looked at each other in aston
ishment. There pause of few seconds dura
ton, and then the professor proceeded. -..s.3
/ began to feel alarmed. / remembered what had
been done the night before. Under ordinary circum
stances, there no danger to be apprehended The
bear was tame enough, and had been whipped unit
lie had imbibed proper sense of the superiority Of
man. But from the sounds judged that Bruin had
worked himself into the room only separated from us
by partition full Of windows, in which were kept the
various drugs used in illustrating experiments.
There were good many carbons and bottles of aciG
in that Should he overset any of these and the
conentsj touch his skin, he would be apt to break
through the windows Of the apartment and do some
mischief before we could secure him. By the looks
of my companions | saw they entertained the same
fears.
There was another crash and growl. The professor
stopped again and the class looked around in dsmay
| Those who We're. acquainted with the cause of the
noise could scarcely keep their countenance. Ia
spite of the alarm under which they labored there
was something so ludcrous in the growl especially
when we figured to ourselves the coming consterna
ton of the class, that they could hardly refrain from
laughing outright. The professor, who could not tell
from whence the sound proceeded, and thought it a
trick of the class, reproved them severely and then
continued his lecture q" Gentlemen said he, pre-
pairing for brilliant experiment, l will show you
most startling effect"
And he did. Hark there was sudden crash, al
if every bottle in the place had been destroyed a
once-a smoke rose up-there was terrific how