The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1861-01-16
SelctteO Gale.
THE FATAL TRICK.

lar meeting Of the hunters, who assem-
cd every week. We kept It JOLLY I'M
til midnight, having in that time nanag-
ed to get full of Bacchus, when Somers
proposed that we should sally forth and
astonish the town by some well planned
and well directed piece of Mischief
Without any one of lis having very
clear conception Of our actions or inten,
tons, We hailed the proposition with
drunken rapture, and started forth.
A travelling menagerie had arrived in
town the day before, and among the
wonders il contained was ayoung bear.
The poor animal had been SO well beaten
that he had b come very humble, and ac-
CURED number Of amusing tricks. OF
this we were all aware, having visited
tie lnonagerie the day before. Just as
we passed the spot where the animals
we're confined, it occurred to me what
rare sport it would be to capture poor
Bruin and place him in the chemical
lecture room, to astonish, on the next
day, the professors and thc class.
No sooner had | made tho PROPOSE
ton to this effect than it was adopted, and
all volunteered THEN assistance in carry
inc it into execution. The tent or pavil-
ion which covered the beasts was erected
in the great yard Of the principal tavern.
The cages, each containing one or more
animals, were ron grated boxes standing
on wheels, by which they had been dag
ged into town. They were ranged round
the interior of the tent, forming circu-
lar array ofwood and iron. Not imagin-
ing that any one W ,ud disturb the ami
mas, the showmca and keepers had re-
tired to rest along with tho inmates Of
INC tavern, leaving the tent entirely un-
watched. Thus we were afforded clear
field in which to execute our scheme -
After several Of our number had been
posted as sentincls, the rest crept under
the canvass and entered lie arena 1t WIS
sometime before we could, in the deep
darkness Of the place, identify tie cage in
which our friend Brnin had been placed
to sleep. After stumbling over divers
things which lay scattered about, anil
pee,ing here and there in the dark, We
found Il e object If our search. There
in substantial cage, was the dim out
line of the animal, his two white eyes
flashing drops Of fire ut being reused
from his quiet slumbcr.
The next difficulty that occurred to Us
was the mode of conveying Him to the
college, which was several hundred rods
distant. Some ofthe jewellers proposed
that we should throw q halter around Is
neck and so drag him along. We re-
jected this, not from any personal fear,
since We had arrived ct that point which
makes one oblivious of danger. but lest we
should be seen by somo late stragglcr
and have our fun spoiled. A better plan
was, after much scheming, devised, and
one which met with universal acduies-
eence. In the tavern yard stood wa
ter hogshead with n sliding lid, fastened
by means Of a hasp and staple. We
had only 10 roll this in, slide down the
box from the wheels, open the door i'm
nediately 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 passing through the
staple, and roll our prisoner ana prison
house to the college.
No sooner was this suggested than we
hastoned to put it into execution. The
cage, with our united efforts, was slid
quietly down from the wheels-Bruin
growing all the while with anger-the
hogshead was rolled and placed with the
open end in front Of the cage, and the
animal stirred up with our canes. With
a terrific yell be rushed in, and we closed
the lid suddenly down upon him, fas;en-
ing it at the same time in secure man
ner. The yell of the bear had aroused
the other animals, and our ears were re-
called for the next ten minutes with a
variety of hideous sounds, that awakened
fearfully the sleeping echoes Of the night.
The animal in the hogshead growled an |
his voice came like distant thunder, so
deadened was it by tie wood in which
he lay. His fellows had no incumbrance
to their voices, and they Lowlcd as clear
ly as though they had been in their ma
i've forests,