Marshall County Republican., 1871-11-23
Fighting a Bear in a Cattle Car.
From the London lcaaadal Free Press.

s The men ON the mixed train going west
Yesterday morning had q pretty good
sized sensation just as the train arrived at
Boutwell,. As the noise OF the wheels
subsided, unusual and excited sounds
were heard issuing from a bonded car
which all along the passage from the Sus-
pension Bridge had remained, under lock
rnd key, attracting no especial notice from
any one, as no one on the train seemed
aware of'its true contents. Gradually the
noises grew louder and more excited,
scuff1ing was heard, accompanied by yells
and imprecations from human voice, and
a series of low, fierce snarls and growls as.
from an enraged and powerful animal
then a shuffiing to and fro, and more excl
ted but perfectly unintelligible exclama-
tions. The men were at loss what to
make of all this, and marvelled exceed
-ingly. A crowd collected, and noises of
the same character continued within.
There appeared to be terrible rumpus
inside the car which each moment grew
more desperate and alarming. All at once
violent humping against the door and
the voice of the man, which had by this
time grown more coherent, but sounded
faint and smothered, broke out in exclam-
atory appeals, "Brek door. fbrek door
Injin get kill !" After which the struggle
seemed to be renewed more furiously than
ever, ''Injin" giving vent to short yells of
pain and distress.
No time was lost by the men outside,
who proceeded at once to obey the call,
and break the lock. No sooner had the
door been partially opened than out
sprang a strapping young Indian in ter
ribly excited state of mind minus his hat
with his clothing hanging in shreds about
his body, and displaying several bleeding
wounds. He was well nigh exhausted
but did not stop running till he got be,
hind the station house in aplacc of safety,
where he stood painting for breath for
some minutes before any one who sur
rounded him could elicit any information
from him as to the nature of the ordeal
through which he had passed That, how
ever, was perfectly Ineligible to those
who witnessed his escape, for he had no
sooner got clear than a large black bear
came snuffing at the door, wanting to get
out too and pursue his enemy like roar
ing lion to devour him. On seeing the
men, however, and probably not caring to
jump into the immediate presence of so
many persons, Bruin recoiled and sneaked
into corner, from which he glared saw
agely at them.
There were several other animals in the
car, some of them In cages, and some Sc
curely fastened up with chains and ropes
Among them was a young cub belonging
to the old bear, who at once took refuge
behind his ma in the corner, apparently
somewhat bashful by the appearance of so
many grown men There were also an
antelope, a couple of monkeys, a wild
kangaroo, some curious specimens of the
feathered creation and box of snakes,
which remained comfortably coiled up in
their blankets, either too tired or sleepy
to take any part in the fuss. The collec-
ton, it appears, belonged to a travelling
Snowman, who proposed to exhibit in a
western town.
The Indian boy, for he was scarcely out
of his teens, although big and muscular. as
saon as he could collect his ideas, and be-
gan to realize that he was safe and sound,
related that he was employed by the pro
prietor at So month to attend the ami
mails in their travels as keeper; that he
had been shut up with them in the car for
nearly three days, with nothing to eat but
bread and turnips, and with only water to
drink, that the old bear had become res
tive in the car while on the journey, pro-
badly from hunger and thirst, and ended
by committing an assault upon him, which
he repelled as long as he was able to hold
out. He thought every moment he would
have to give in, and consent to be eaten
up for breakfast by the bear and her in
teresting offspring Twice she got her
arms fondly around him, and would GER
tainly have hugged him to death but for
tAAO ACiNulCd1l ottCIl IN W 1ICu CustOINN IT'LL
10 throw her off, and spurn her advances
Being somewhat cramped in her physical
energies by the confinement and dull rou-
tine of show life, besides being not 81
young as she used tc be, she was the more
easily overcome, and failed to make a:
stout an attack as the circumstances seem
edto demand from her The young MAJ
from the country parts, however, was de
termined not to be taken in" any NOR
by the deceptions and allurements ofside
show life, and then and there resolved t
abandon profession in which he discov
cred he had neither the talent nor educa
ton to shine very -resplendantly. 49,
He tnkme big fool said he; I" In
gin only get So month, and a chance t
get eat up into the bargain. No, no, m
friends, that muchly too thinf Ugh
Not for Joseph-not if he knows it? ?"
1E1r CIR -IfTiS riff