The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
The Cincinnati Bears,

In the biological Gardens at Cincinnati
is bear-pit which has for months been
peaceably inhabited by cinnamon bear and
four black bears. The cinnamon is much
larger than his companions, and 6ercer, but
he took ofense not long since at something
done by the most active of the blacks, and
the encounter which followed is thus de.
stribed by the Cincinnati Enquirer
"Two of the four bears climbed the snag
of a tree set up in the pit, third clambered
up Theron gate, and the fourth paced around
the pit in terror. The noise of the conflict
drew a crowd to the scene.
cinnamon style of fighting was to seize
his adversary by the throat, just back of the
ear, and quartering under the jaw, close upon
him like steel trap, and hold him down,
shaking occasionally with short shakes, but
always bearing down and holding fast.
"The little one, which was only half or
two. thirds the weight of his assslsnt, Shrek
ed most human. like. At first his cries were
appalling, but they soon faded into hoarse,
gurgling sounds, half sigh and half shrek.
cat first the keeper, Mr.. John Nordheim,
as brave as an old tiger hunter, tried the eff
feet of punching with pole to make bruin
quit his hold, but it was not noticed. BE
next threw lot of fresh fish in right under
his nose, but the bait did not take; then wa
ter was thrown on him-a big stream from q
hose. This made him let go.
Tbo l;tklo 1ooarokad looLu ~ ord
made circles around the cage, Shrieking and
crying at terrible rate, while the bear on
the gate bars and the two perched in the
tree shook like blown leaves, as if fearing
their turn would come next. The little one,
though, that had stood on the fl DOR locker
on all the while, crouched in corner, half
in defiance and half in fear.
cold Cinnamon ate his fish and then re-
turned to his mutton, the little bear. The
little fellow jumped into the pool, and old
Cinnamon bounced on him to drown him.
Again the hose was applied Old Cinnamon
did not seem to mind it. He tugged little
blacky out of the pool and commenced chew
ing him up.
CAT this moment John Nordheim bolted
right into the den, armed with long-hand-
led, heavy spade
"Oh, don't go in shouted men and
shrieked women, but he had passed the por.
tails, and walked right face to face with
death.
"Thud, thud, thud-three thuds of the
shovel on Bruins head released little blacky,
hnt tn,ood H;pnomon an hro1a Tobp Nor2
helm, who had nothing but spade and John
Nordheim's muscle and brain with which to
make fight.
"Thud, thud-down went Cinnamon, and
up be got again, and staggered close to little
blacky and opened the fight again.
"Thud, thud, thud, thud-thick and heavy
fall the blows on old Cinnamon's skull. The
old beast loosened his hold and ran into the
dungeon next the pit.
"Unlock that gate, shouted Nordheim to
Mr.. Tenner, 'and l will lock him up for good
now
Mr.. Tenner obeyed, and Nordheim shut
the door.
"Once the door was securely shut, it was
amusing to see the three frightened but un-
hurt bears leave their posts and strut up to
that door, then stride around the cage, as
much as to say, wont somebody please
knock chip off my shoulder ?
"Around and around they marched, re-
turning to the door, smelling it, feeling it
cautiously, and rearing up against it, as if to
make sure that all was safe, then strutting
off, Falstatf like, when the danger was gone.