Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-08-20
Beaten at His Own Game,


Among the baggage coming down on a
Flint and Pere Marquette train the other
day was full grown black bear. Bruin
had been in captivity for two or three
years, and was now on his way east for
geological garden. His owner was al
lowed TO ride with him in the baggage
| car, and he seemed to think the bear was
the greatest animal ON earth. lie was
ready to bet that bruin could ut-hug and
out bite an human, and was rather dis
appointed when the railroad men refused
to dispute that point with him. He was
indulgng in his brag when an old
man came into the car to see about his
trunk. He saw the bear, of course, but
the glance Of contempt he bestowed on the
animal instantly kindled the indignation
of the owner who called OUT
"Mebbe you think i'm toting an old
hyena around the countryn
II guess it's bear" slowly replied
the other, "but | see nothing remarkable
about him."
"You don't, eh? Well, do MeLbe
you'd like to sec him hug that trunk of
yours? What he can't silver when he
gets his paws around it has got to have
roots forty feet under the ground"
"Pve got son back in the car" rehec-
lively observed the old man, and then he
stopped aud looked at the bear.
Your son? Egad Will you match
your son agin my bear?" chuckled the
owner as he danced with delight.
81 guess So"
"You do? Bring him in! Trot him out
| III give him all the show he wants and
| bet five to one on the bear!'
The old man slowly took in chew of
tobacco, left the car, and when he return
ed he had his son Martin with him. Mar
| tin seemed to be about twenty-seven years
of age and little taller than 4 hitching-
post. He was built on the ground with
back like writingdesk and arms which
seemed to have been sawed from railroad
| ties.
| Martin, this ere man wants to bet five
to one that this bear can out-hug you,"
quietly explained the father as the son sat
down on u trunk.
"Yes, that's it-that's just itn' cackled
the owner.
"I'll muzzle him so he can't bite and
| I'll bet five to one he'll make you holler
in two minutes"
"Muzze your bar" was all that Mar
lii o''iu do LC PuliCu OuI llNC nOlldl Dlll
and handed it to the baggage man. The
bear-man put twenty-five dollars with it,
grinning like boy in cherry tree, and
in a minute he had the bear ready. Mar
tin removed his coat and paper collar and
carelessly inquired
SIS this to be squar' hug, with no
gouging"
jess so--jess!" replied the bear man.
You hug the bear and he will hug you.
and the one who squeals first looses his
cash. Now, then, all ready"
AS Martin approached the bear rose up
with sinful glare i'll his eye and the two
embraced. 1t was sort of back.hold,
with no sell out on the crowd.
go for him, Hunyadon' yelled the
bear man as they closed and the bear
responded. One could see by the set of
his eyes that he meant to make Jelly of
that young man in York minute, but he
failed to do it. Some little trihes stood in
his way. For instance it wasn't ten
seconds before he realized that two could
play at hugging. Martins hand sank
down into the bears coat, the shoulder
muscles were called on for duty and at
the first hug the bear rolled his eyes in
astonishment
4 I" Go in, IIunyado-go in-go in"
screamed the bear man and bruin laid
himself out as if he meant to pull rail.
road water tank down.
"You might squeeze IL little bit harder
my SON. carelessly suggested the father,
rs he spit from the open door and Martin
called out his reserve muscle.
i Each had his best grip. There was no
tumbling round TO waste breath, but it
was stand up stand-still hugging match.
Little by little the bears eyes began to
bulge and his mouth to open, and Martins
face slowly grew to the color of red paint.
d" Hang to him, Hunyado-I've got my
last dollar on your head.' shrieked the
bear man, as he saw q further bulge to his
pets eyes.
But it was no use. All of sudden the
bear began to yell and cough and strangle.
He was goner. Martin knew it, but he
wanted no dispute, so he gave Hunyado q
lift from the floor, a hug which rolled his
eyes around like pin wheel, and then
dropped him in Il heap on the floor.
"Well may be shot," gasped the bear
man, as he stood over the half lfeless
heap of hair and claws
" Martin" said the father, as he handed
him the thirty dollars, you'd better 60
back thar and watch our saches!'
"Yes, guess So" replied the son, as he
showed the bills into his vest pocket, and
retil ed without another word or a look at
the bear.
That was the bear they were feeding
cruel in Il saloon on Randolph street two
evenings ago-one man was feeding him
cruel and another feeling along his spine
to find the fracture.