The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-01-28
A Terrible Fall Into the Bear Pit Ina
the Geological Garden.

Yesterday afternoon, says the Phila-
delphia Times, tragical incident oc-
Cured in the Geological Garden. A
Times reporter happened TO alight from
street ear beneath the railroad bridge
in proximity 10 the Garden simultane-
ously with handsome young matron,
a nurse-girl with "A baby in her arms,
and a pretty child about four years old i.
The lady was richly alfred, and so ju-
yenile was her appearance that any OBJ
server might have thought she was
probably the sister or aunt Of the little
one that tOddled beside her. moment
afterward light wagon, occupied by "A
good-looking, well-dressed man, and a
liyeried servant, approached at n rapid
gait As il passed the young man
stared inquisitiyely at the lady, who was
just entering the gateway, looked back,
and moment afterward pulled up,
paid the entrance fee and went rapidly
up the walk in the direction the lady
and her companions had taken. Ii was
evident 10 the most nonchslani observer
that he wa- smitten by her beauty.
On the brink Of the skating-pond the
reporter again saw the lady and her
charges, and saw that the little girl had
been entrusted to bear the burden Of
the baby, which was nearly as large a
herself. A few yards away stood the
young Adonis, trifling with his long,
tawny mustache, evidently DESTROYS Of
making an impression. After a while
the little girl complained that il
was cold and that she
wanted to see the bears, so the party
proceeded toward the pits where the
ursine animals are confined, closely fol-
lowed By the dashing young man. While
trying To induce one Of the sun bears TO
catch chew of solace, the reporter
heard a shrek and saw something white
fuiier down into the well 81 the black
bears adjoining. The baby had evil
IDENTIFY fallen into the pit, In an instant
the chivalrous admirer Of its mother
had mounted the railing, and, with
wonderful agility, sprang out upon the
barkless tree iD the center ~ the well,
down which one Of the bears Was de-
scending, with the intention - devour-
ing the small child. He reached the
ground almost a soon as the bear, and,
pluckily graSping the fallen infant, was
endeavOring 10 reasccnd the tree when
another bear came gAllOping with un-
steady gait out Of the hole and grasped
his cOat-tail The cries of those above
the cage had been heard by the keep
ers. and Nash. >cattergOOd snd super
iniendent Thompson came running up.
In his efforts 10 hold to the tree the
young gallant relaxed his hold upon
the child and il fell into the paws of the
first bear. All hope for the poor little
creature was given mp by the specta-
tors, but Nash unlocked the gate of the
den and beat the bears back into their
caves.
"Never mind me save the childl"
cried the agile Adonis.
"Come down out Of there, you en-
chanted idiot. or III have you arrested"
was Captain Thompson's reply.
lie descended, and quickly went
through the iron portal Of the pit
"The baby he murmered.
ANY wife and are very much Obliged
10 you for your gallant effort to rescue
our daughters doll. sir. but do you
think the game was worth the candle?'
said stalwsrt, rubicund gentleman,
Mr.. Charles Seeley. Of Green Street,
upon whose arm the lady who had ex-
cited the admiration Of the bear-detier
was now leaning, conyulsed with sup
pressed laughter.
A glance towards the nurse-girl, in
whose arms were the headless remains
Of large wax doll. satisfied the chiyal-
ric gentleman. and he started for the
gate on a rapit walk