Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-23
Vol XVII, Whole No. S4sNo u.
A Medicated Bear.
SCIENCE AGAINST THE GALLows.
ny poNS PIATr .

to illustrate a fact in science Ii was nj
an early dav in the history of galvanism
A negro had been condemned to su fer
death on the gallows COR murder in Gin
clnnati, and some learned men annoupc-
ed that. for and in consideration of
twenty five cents admission, to be col
lected at the door, for the benefit of a
hospital, experiments with the galvanic
battery would be made upon the BODY
| OF the miserable man. a circus tent
had been procured for the purpose, and
the medical savans counted largely on
the profits TO accrue.
The fatal day came, and with il thou
sands on thousands of people, men, wo-
men. and children, TO witness the per-
petuation of this remnant of stupid bar
barism called hanging. From midnight
until morning, from all the hills and
valleys OF Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana,
came pouring in the motley crowd of
! ignorant. curious humanity. The tav-
erns, stores, streets, and alleys were
crowded with people; and when the
sentence hour approached, the process
sion which accompanied the cart made a
sensitive mind sick of the human race.
| 1 he better cultivated and more refu-
/ eli gathered in the huge tent to witness
| the scientific experiments, which prom
ised 10 restore the wretched convict to
lie, or, failing In that, to make his dead
body struggle and kick in the most ex-
citing manner. The preparations were
| significant and startling. Near the CEN
ire OF the sawdust ring was a table, and
by II the wonderful instrument which
was believed to hold the mysterious ss-
| sencc of life while about them gather
ed III groups the medicated philosophers
conversing in low measured tones. or
walking to and fro, calmly indifferent
to the gathered crowd, as men are wont
70 do on such occasiods
Hours wore away. The noon came
and passed. The excitement grew in
tense. AT last rumor spread and
reached the tent that the sentenced man
had been reprieved upon the scaffold.
This was confirmed by the returning
crowd, which pushed in without paw
ing, and packed every available space.
/ ihs>es and cries of discomfort broke
ont, and were taken up by the motley
\ crew OF the non paving audience, in a
high state OF wrath at being disappoiat-
ed m the hanging. In the midst Of the
I iumult. Professor D-mounted the ta-
Bile, aud, commanding silence. said:
Ladies and Gcntlemen-We regret
deeply that a mistaken clemency on the
part OF the Governor has robbed the
gailnw> OF it, own, and science OF a sub
lect. 1t i impossible 10 return veu
Your money, Tor so many have rushed
IN without paving, and they would be
precisely the sort TO demand the admis-
sion lee. We nave determined, howev-
tr, - that YOU may not be disappointed
| III your laudable curiosity to witness al
execution and those wonderful eahibi-
| lions OF modern science, To purchase of
Mr.. Brown bear which he has fattened
\ 10 Kill, hang the animal here, and then
proceed with our experiments. wiz
this satisfy VOW"
in the Affirmative end WY MasatpgoRs thg ls.pJRsss, sa2s,
The bear was seut for, but Bruin had
not been consulted. and declined the
cn.a4 emcnt. The audience waited pa
ticntY iuI hours. AT last a great noise
OF men, boys, aud dogs oil the outside
gave welcome note OF the coming events.
Inc lat JanitOr OF the Medical College,
"A bald-hcadcd enthusiast in the cause Vi
ply ~ic. appeared inside the entrance,
Juggling at "a rope that seemed to be held
u some reluctant party outside. 80
reluctant was this party that ice the
janltor disappeared pulled back by SUI
perior force. The janitor, cheered by
the crowd, and AT length assisted bt
stout men, pulled the animal into the
arena.
10 hang a bear without the animals
consent (and never heard Of one CON-
uniting suicide, ) is at any time difficult;
but to hang a fat bear is almost impossi-
bic. The muscular neck is quite as
large as the head, and on this occasion
Bruln was pulled up twice, and twice,
assisted by his paws, lie twisted his
| neck out of the moose, and came down
amid loud cheers from the crowd that
wa, rapidly passing into sympathy with
the iour-lootcd, animal. The third at
tempt proved tile charm. Bruin kicked
and struggled at the end OF a line as
naturally a> IA man would have done,
and at the close OF twenty minutes he
was pronounced dead bear By tie
learned faculty in attendance.
The body was lowered with some
haste. and placed upon the table.
Al the first shock the struggles were
renewed At the second discharge the
efforts were more decided. and grovi.
we're added. AT the third shock Bruiu
stood up on his Launches, aud gazed
stupidity ut the audience, who reciprocal
ted the attention bv still louder cheers.
While this was going on, the subject of
these wonderful experiments happened
to get sight OF the fat janitor, and, while
the fourth shock was being administer
ed he suddenly, with terrific growi,
juuped from the table, and ran after his
corpulcnt foe. The ring which had been
10 10 this moment somewhat crowded,
was abruptly cleared a fair field was
given the afi'righted official, who fairly
ustonished himself at the rate with which
he carried his adipose over the ground.
So long as the bear chased the lanitor,
the crowd was enterteined. In all such
exhibitions, however, certain women
are sure to be present who mar the en-
io,inent by screaming at the wrong mo-
mcnt, and then, tainting. force people
to carry them out into the open air.
This is to be reprehended, and the wo-
men should be rebuked. On this occa-
sion. when the popular enjoyment was
at he highest, and the hated janitor-
by The way, u body-snatcher-was max
ing his third round, with the bear gain
ing on him, three or four inconsiderate
women began screaming. The people
of that day were familiar with bears,
and .lad no fear OF the animal. But
there was something my steriously alarn-
| ing about Il bear that had been dead, anu
was alive again. And so when the
| screams were heard, a great panic iell up
Oh the crowd. The effort made 10 es-
cape was fearful. Over the seats, under
| the seats. out through the thin canvas in
! every direction, the multitude fled like
rats from a falling house, and in the
midst of the tunnel the canvas came
down. Out from under it, the audience
hurried, climbing oh fences and roofs,
or disappearing down streets and alleys.
Among these was the prosecuted janitor.
A. last the medicated bear, full Of gal
vanism, appeared and set off over the
common followed by all the dogs of the
country. For many years after this
strange event in Cincinnatiand its viciu-
ity, hanging was regarded with great
contempt. The simple folk believed all
the condemned had to do WAS to sell