The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-12-05
B. B. BLACK WELL, EDITOR.


lid, fastened by means Of a hasp anC
staple. We had only to roll this in
slide down the box from the wheels
open the door Immediately in front o
the hogshead, and drive the animal in
We could then push down the lid o
the cask, secure it by means of a rope
passing through the staple, and rol
our prisoner and prison house to the
college
No sooner was this suggested than
we fastened to put i5 into execution.
The cage, with our united efforts, was
slid quietly down from the wheels
Bruin growing all the while with an
ger-the hogshead was rolled in and
placed open end in front of the cage
and the animal stirred up with oul
canes. With a terrific yell he rushed
| in, and we closed the lid suddenly
down upon him, fastening it at the
same time in II secure manner The
yell of the bear had reused the other
animals, our ears were RECALLED for the
next ten minutes with a variety OF
hideous sounds, that awakened fearful
ly the sleeping echoes of the night.
The animal in the hogshea id growled,
his voice came like distant thunder, so
deadened was it by the wood in which
he lay. His fellows had no incum-
brance to their voices, and they howl
ed as clearly as though they had been
in their native forests.
Fearful of being discovered, we re-
manned quiet for time, holding our
breaths in suspense. But no one dis.
turbed US The animals often star
ted chorus of strange noises during
the night, and the keepers. thinking
nothing unusual to be the matter,
merely cursed the unruly beasts for
destroying the unity of their rest, and
turning back, went to sleep again.
As soon as quiet was restored, we
slit hole in the canvass-for we were
afraid to emerge by the aperture
facing the tavern-rolled our hogshead
thro' the yard to the back gate, which
we unfastened, and then passing into
the road, started at a quick rate for
our spot of destination. Over ana
over went the hogshead, the animal
within growing at the rough treatment
he experienced, and We nearly convuls-
ed with laughter at the uncouthness
of the noise which he made.
At length we reached the back part
of the college, when one of our party
climbed over the wall and unfastened
the gate. We rolled our prize to the
back door of the larbortary, which
was the place where our professor of
chemistry lectured We, found that
in consequence of the narrowness of
the door, the hogshead would not en-
ter Such being the case, we were
about to start the animal through the
open door, when an idea, more redo
lent of fun, struck the fancy of Somers
Back of the lecture-room was @ small
apartment containing odds and ends,
which was not visited, perhaps, once
a month. He said rightly, that if we
placed Bruin in this apartment, he
would not likely be discovered until
some time during the lecture of the
Professor, when the noise he would be
apt to make, attracting attention, the
plot would be readily brought to
crisis. We joined our strength, and
upon our shoulders, up went the
hogshead until it was placed on lev
ell with the window. A light young
young fellow, the smallest Of the par
t., climbed up, hoisted the window,
and slid up the lid of the cask. We
shook the hogshead violently, but at
first to no purpose The animal was
thoroughly frightened, and lay still,
with only an occasional growl. We
shook it again and he started. There
was but one possible mode of progress
sion, which was straight forward-and
the brute gave spring through the
window. There was crash of glass,
a howl and the terrified animal, crouch
ing in the corner, remained silent. -
Our little companion closed the sash
and leaped down. We rolled the hogs
head up into corner of the yard, and
returning to our rooms, continued our
reVelry till near daylight.
1t was about noon when l awoke.
| hurried on my clothes, swallowed
some soda water, and afterwards a
cup of coffee, and FASTENED to the col
lege It was the hour of the lecture
by the professor of chemistry, and /
entered the room just as he was about
to descant upon the subject. The
class were all wrapt in attention, for
the lecturer was an able man, and was
treating upon Light" matter Of
interest, and capable of beautiful Illus
tration. He had scarcely finished his
short and eloquent exordium, before
we heard crash of bottles, and a low