The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-20
BEAR AND BAUER.

1EAN AIN DA " EN-.
MATCH BETWEEN THE GRiEco-RoAAN wREsT-
LER AND BRUIN, IN WHICH THE FORMER
WAS VICTORIOUS
A novel and quite peculiar athletic entertainment
was given at the French Theatre, in Twenty
fourth street, last evening, tho chief features
beng wrestling matches between men who
are expert wrestlers and trained bears The house
well filled with men only. There was no music,
and. as the curtain not lifted promptly at eight,
some Impotence was manifested. Az ha-past eight
the entertainment began with an exhibition OF
club swinging by an athlete named Messenger.
Then two Frenchmen, named Dc Leon and
Ambrose had bout ut wrestling that
interesting though rather bret, ending in
De Leons triumph. The preliminary events over the
referee introduced Emu Rcgnier and said that he
would wreslie small bear named Rene.
Tho announcement WAS greeted with applause,
in the midst of which Brun, muzzed and
led by rope, walked on tho stage. Rene is
sprghlly wry copted clean looking animal evidently
in very good condition and quite ready for tusse.
AS he approached his adversary he promptly
raised himself his hind legs, advanced with queer,
shuinng gait, and with his head thrown rakisnly
on one side commenced TO spar for bold.
Regnier spared witt him for instant and then
clasped him about the forear,ns Aitcr brie strug
gle Reno freed himself and quickly got 10 work on tho
aggressive again. He pressed upon Regnicr who,
in his effort evade BRUINS clasp turned partially
away. Instantly the bear caught HIM about tho body
Just above tho hips and tried To press him forward
his face Rc9nier turn broke this lock and directly
was face to taco with his antagonist again. The wrest
Ing bear, IN trying to force down the human
wrestler, INDUCED, At TINS stage, IN some
amusing ant'cs He would put his head
close AGAINST Re- gntcrs head lean his chest
and with one arm ciasplng the mans shoulder ana
another around his ,1ns ne Would " Try 70 .r'p
us much cunning skiu human wrcst
Ter. All this evidently none in the best
temper, for though the bear waxcd che
struggle and got claws, times. cntangled tho
tights OF the man. he never tried 10 scratch HIM, and
as lie was muzzed OF course, he could not bc HIM.
When the struggle had progressed lew minutes
Regnier freed himself, and with a quick movement
got an under hold, by means Of when ne gave Tho
bear sudden jerk and threw him his back, the
great delight OF the AUDIENCE who manifested their
pleasure by loud peas OF laughter and boistcrous APP
pauss.
Then followed what was doubtless intended to prove
Bauer's match with 'sMartin." the big bear, whose
weight is perhaps three hundred ana fifty pounds II
ana not sns sm m s * ns
| greuter, and who evidently loved the and
| pursued It with an awkward paytuiness that was
| his adversary. He did not greatly to
fancy being knocked about BY 10, he, muscular sen.
but I re.reated with hobbi,ng SKIP whenever Bauer
| tried 10 get in on him ana get un under hold He
would extend his fore paws press them openly
against Bauers head, chest aud shoulders TO keep
| him as IL arms length. The bear
made no such skillul Efforts to throw Bauer as
the SIN taller one had IN hts with Regnier He
| would put his great claws Bauers arm and shoul
der at and about TO bury the long nails IN
the mans flesh until restrained by look evaded
| by a qu,k movement Of Bauer's. Alter few
minutes OF such advances on the part Of Bauer
ana a continued defensive attitude on the part OF the
bear Bauer claspcd the animal and hurled him back
waro partly on his side. This was pronounced no
At forty EIGHT minutes past eight the contest re-
commenced, the bear seeming 10 DO rather
frightened and still content'ng himself With an
effort to push on his adversary, contrary
the general expectation that he would hug him too
closely. For just Two minutes man and bear shufllcd
and danced about the stage until, 10 an unguarded
moment, Bauer caught the bear with one
hand by tho left tore paw, put the other
rapidly and pitched him backward. giving him this
time lair TALL Bauer's triumph was greatly ap-
plsuued, but he did not achieve unscathed. IL
his FOL enead and lesser scratches on his arms
Dc Leon and Ambrose came forward at this time
for their second bout. After q little parrying Dc
Leon got down his face when brei tusslc TO roll
him over backward ended rutiessly. Tnen
! neck and they struggled tow moments with
heads down and bodies beut until the hold was broken
Leon worked turn him on his back the bears growrd
as il eager part the contest Finally, alter
minutes, De Leon succeeded IN throwing AMBROSE
/ MORE BEAR
/ At Two minutes before nine O'Clock Regnier and the
/ little Dear, whose weight might DO little over 200
pounds, again stepped on the stage. Bruin was I'M
mcdialely the aggressive again, his game style
and hop and skip movements provoking considerable
merrimcnt. He seemed enjoy the iun greatly and
was evidently proud OF his skill Regnler caught him
| by the Tor earn, swung himself unier the animai's
body anu tried 70 ding him over his mead. but Bruin
was far too cautious. quickly dvining The wreser's
intent he cautiously drew back ana tried to turn over
his antagonist who was now on his hands and knees
In this effort the bear unsuccessful. and Reanier
promptly regained his fect Then the rope with ch
| the anma had been held was removed ana pretty
his hands and knees and the bear atop. 1t was
very amusing to see tho animal struggle
to turn the o man ,o over any ms ns 0aSK
| side, paw uuqer his breast aud the
other claspins him 81. the back and working win
might and main TO roll him on his back. Regnier
TOO quick Tor him, however; he slipped
out OF DIS grasp ana Jumped to his
feet, Bruin getting quickly after him and
dexterously endcavoring 10 trip him as he arose
| while some wig the audience called, Foul"
Without breathing speil tney were a. ~ again, ana
| nanus and knees. This time Rene succeeded
In ng him over, and though Rcgnier con,rved u"
keep his shoulders oil the floor Tor a moment, the
beag pressed down ana succeeded III winning the
round. after a contest lasting Tor seven minutcs.
Messenger now gave an exhibition OF strength and
dcxterily rare order in the npulation Vi
non balls, one Of which falling rolled toward the loot
H. is, and fortunately prevc nted from dropping
in among The audience by tue agility OF an attendant
VICTORIOUS
After rcces5Bauer and the big boar com need to
wrcstle again, rather Bauer commenced to wrestlc
and the bear defend himself the animal
seeming to be rather frightened. In less
than three minutes Bauer hurled tho bear
| backward against the scenery at tho back
oil the stage, but closely locked with him that
he aid not get away until one oil tue claws OF the
ANIMALS Find leg had scratched his in
| the scramble Bru,n was making 10 regain his
ieet. Tns was allowed TO be a iaii
| so tho contest resumed and continued without
much variety three uutes more, al the end ~
bear worsted TO the great delight OF tho
audience.
lhe entertainment concluded with boul between
II, gnier and tho festive Rene. The tle bear seemed
TO smile he advanced 10 greet his adversary In
the hna combat. After passage at arms
length II the expression may DO permitted lasting
for Two minutes during which both aud
bear caught various hods-now around tho
neck, under the shoulders ana again wilh
one arm above and the other below, the bear
ut last got Rcgnier down on hands and
a NIL Ihc nlun