The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-12-27
tempt the weights were successfully

tempt the weights were successfully
lifted. II -. III - = - 80 -.
While the cannon-balls were rolling and
the heavy weights crashing on the stage,
the arrival OF the bears was announced
The stage CT Athletic Hall is small; and
the entrance from the rear is strictly pro.
portioned to it. Thus when some one
called out in French, "Open the door
tor the bears, there was no little com.
motion among the employees. Before the
bears could be admitted it was necessary
to tear down some of the side scenery.
The bears are a brown and gray, the
former being the stronger and heavier.
AS they reached the stage the band "a
harp and two tiddles, execrably out
tune) struck up a lively waltz, and the
brown bear began a clumsy dance: The
gray sat quietly on his launches aud
licked his chops. Both were muzzlcd.
After short time Heygster. whose sport
ing title is 1.-THE Oak of the Rhine y
jumped upon the stage in full wrestling
costume. He is large, heavy man,
with arms as big as an ordinary mans
leg.
He was backed to wrestle the brown
bear, but the latter seemed rather inclin-
ed to dance than to wrestle, and kept the
house in roar with his antics. Finally,
however, he stood upon his hind LEI s, and
cautiously guarded against the efforts Of
Heygster 10 get an under hold, Hcygste1
got his arms around Bruins neck, but
the latter with one paw over the man S
shoulder. and the other pressed around
his waist, had by far the best of the grip.
AS Heygstcr exerted his immense strength
in the effort to gain fall, Bruin warily
placed himself on his hind legs, watching
every movement intently, and thus for
two or three minutes the wrestlers moved
from side to side of the stage. Heygster
tried to change his grip, but as he did so
the bear got both paws around him and
gave him a hug such as none but a strong
man could have endured. At length
Heygster released himself and retired to
the other side of the stage, putting and
blowing like porpoise. After this he
clinched the bear second and third
time, narrowly escaping fall on each
occasion; but when time was called for a
fourth round he declined to toe the
mark. Lie was little scratched, but not
otherwise injured.
Reignier, the strong man then clinchcd
with the gray bear the brown bear mean.
time dancing q clumsy war dance in the
corner. The first bout between Reigniel
and the bear was simple clinch, in which
neither got the advantage, but in the sec
ond the bear threw his antagonist heavil,
and in a matter of fact way that was lu
dicrous ip the highest degree. AS hi
placed his big paw on the breast of tho
PROSTATE man, he looked toward the au
dlence for approval. Nothing daunted
Rcignier clinchcd again and was agar
thrown, although he gave bruin YER,
good handful. At length, amid cries o.
Don't try it again" he went in for the
sixth trial. This time he got an inside
grip, but this bruin easily threw off. Their
Reignier, who was down on his knee.
seized the bears paw and held it firmly
This mode Of wrestling was evidentl,
novel to the bear, who tuggcd and pulled
in vain to release himself. In the wild
ness of his strainings he lost his habitua
caution, and Reignier, seixing him behint
actually threw him head over heels ant
fell upon him. This is the first time tn,
bear had been tloorcd. When he rose tx
his feet he was fresh and anxious for an
other bout, but Reignicr had retired.