The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-01
KILLED BY A BLACK BEAR.
4 BRUTE THAT WAS SUPPOSED no BIZ
TAME SUDDENLY SEEING 4 nor


,parkville il tho first station down on tho Coney
island and Prospect Park Railroad. Thoms's
place is some way back from the station on the
boulevard which runs down to the beach from
Prospects Park. II is u small tavern. the noat
and comfortable barroom Of which commands
n view OF the row OF white stables and
OF the Boulevard for a considerable dis
tnncc. The two bears kept in this place by
Thoms belonged to Garret Rating Of Concy
Island. who kept them IN the summer season to
.nmusa his guests. and sent them up to Park
willie tn he oarcd for during the winter. Both Of
the animals wore docic. and thousands of chill
'drcn nul crown persons had approached them
with mpunty They we're male and female;
their names were Ben" and Kate" they
were black hears. 81 years old. md
had hccu captured while very young
cubs in the Blue Ridge Mountains Ia
Virginia. They were not trick bears In the
strict sense ot the term. but there was ono trick
with which they wers perfectly familiar They
icould stand mp ON their hind legs. and taking
bottles of heer in their fore paws. pull out tho
icorEs and drink the contents without spilling
drop. II WIS common practice with Mr.. Thoms
to bring them into the hnrroom for the amuse-
mont of his guests. Occasionally they were car
ried across the way to Mr.. Ravenall's place Thoy
drank boer whskey. wine. or whatever sort Of
spirits was put in their way and although it
was not cheap matter they frequently be-
camc intoxicated with the drink that curious
strangers purchased FOR them.
Mr.. Thoms had these bears for the first time
last winter He got them in September. and
they remained with him until May Last Sop
tember they came to him again. They were
great attraction both to the villagers and 10 the
people who drove out from Brooklyn. The lat
Ter were in the habit Of bringing their children
out to see the bears. They fed them with cakes
and candy. and neither children nor parents
seemed to have any more fear OF the gentle
animals than they would have OF pair ofgood-
natured dogs.
In front of the stables about 100 feet away from
the house. One was fastened to the stable
building the other to a most near by. 80 that
they could approach 10 within y lew ieet OF one
another Both animals were within plain view
tW the barroom, the only object, intervening
being well house scarcely ten feet removed
from the tavern.
On Mond.y afternoon. a number Of boys were
playing Ia the road close TO the bears. The vii
lAgt boys we're Ia the habit of playing with the
Anmas. They approached and caught hold of
them with lmpun ty The bears stood Il good
deal OF teasing and never offered 20 resent the
numberle-s indignltirs which the boys heapod
upon them. The more they were annoyed the
imcrrtr and more guod-naiured they appeared
10 be ome: and while they rivnlled their tor.
1inentcr- IN cutting caper-. they always remained
hatmlr-s and Tar excelied the others IN placid
forbear rance.
On Monday afternoon there was opportunity
.lOT Aiif hffr 10 ehONudl li4t Uf'dI-s anu Ilt1
TOOK aiNantage oi H. They had frequently
been sllvrn away and warned not To annoy the
animals. but the warning was mdde on princi.
pie WIKI view TO getting rid Of the boys and
those who made II had no belief OF its good
iMiu Among the Prosecutors was Peter
Str eicn. sou OF Samuel Stretch Of parkyillp a
lad ~ y or - years OF axe and a bright.
sturdy boy. II WIS about o'clOek IN .ha
afternoon. Ihe4bOys had grown tired Of their
spor. and hali doz-u had turned 60 peting
on" nuufurr. Young Stret'n was standing near
Ben. Tie larger bear He was facing the Boulo-
ward and his hack fnruel tho ami
ma. All 40 once the bear. with no especial
exasperdtion and without warning. walked to-
with IL paw. Tie boy wore thick
leather boots outside his trousers, and
the animals claws although they pierced.
did not Ao.d. But instantly the bear arose. on
ms hlni iegs. and, throwing one OF his fore
paws over the laI's shoulder. caught him with
the other around ths body and drew him into
his embrace. At the first touch the boy screamed
Wit terror. and ;he cry attracted the attention
OF seyera WHO were in tA" ylclnhy James Car
rol. Nj. IhJil-'- stable man. was near by. and he
Ma- the hirt 10 10 10 the lads rescue. Mr..
IIhoms himself was ln the harrOom Of the tav-
eru, and me- also hastrn-d out Both OF these.
coming upon the b.ar with bale sticks which
they caught up on their way Delabored him
soundly, and John Conners. jumping from his
Wagon pfodded the animal with "A ptchiork.
The bear SUNK away. leaving the boy lying face
DOWNWARD ON the ground. The three men
picked hlm up al once and carried him into the
tavern. but he was quite dead.
The whole transaction occupied scarcely
minute. After catching at his boot and while
endeavoringto 10 throw his paw over his shoulder.
tue Claws ul Tue. Dcar ripped tne lal : scalp
from III" forehead way over 10 the back Of the
neck. and made deep wounds in his chest.
Catching him then in deadly hug, he buried
MS teeth IN the boys neck. and falling with
him. drew him under his belly. The teeth Of
the bear cut through the iugular vein. aud made
hwound large enough TO put finger in. The
hug that the animal bestowed crushed in the
rus ana forced the whole breast over 10 the left
As soon us the boy had been carried inside.
anu II was ascertalned that there was no life
ltit In him. Thoms said that the bear must be
\ m IN FNr lf NOR. lal l.r fff.a
assembled. Police Officer Miller approaching
the bear. discharged hye shots from his pistol
stun him. and the last bullet. glnncing a
LITTLE. fell to the floor. hattened out almost
tothe size OF quarter Of dollar. The bear
did not oifer 10 make an attack while the police
oHlcer WAS shooting. with his pistol held scarce
Y loot away from the animals head. Peter
haNenull. Jr.. Just then hurried from across the
way H.th gun. and discharged three loads Of
heavy shot into tie bear body; at the same
une Peter hayenall. Sr., ran long bowie knife
heNera times 20 the hit in the anlmals throat
Ihe boar yielded speedily 10 this attack, and
died without "a struggle The other bear Kate
was ch". med umih closed stable.
AS ~. nlnl IN inquest was hold in the Park
WIZ school house. Only two witnesses We're
NAumiil,u Jpnn Conuers said that he had Wit
Ae''el Ihe kiIug nt the boy. He was driving
by ~ lilo Wagon at the time the bear seized hold
ol MN. me 10y Couners said. was some dis
tancc rom the Lrur. with his back TO the AMI
lnhl tlln WAS iunkiuE toward the street The bear
g5suEnt nm a. hisl Is NE leg. and then about
ypiiipe1 ,rnnn lis WAGON and struck tho bear
W. lU.ilioik. ht uil not see the other boys
llaEulng lhc bear Ine boy was moving when
the Dral caught him. As the bear seized him
ne ctIed out h the TOD OF his voice. as il he were
2 ~ mortal fright. The lad was drawn com
pletely under the bear. and lay with his head
betwegn mo animals fore paws and his face
npon Mo grourd. Mr.. Thoms was expeditions
IN Wyihg a. MI the bear after the body Of the
Do) H4d hsen recovered. Corners said no
I Noud have given g2j to have avoided the sight
otth killing of tho 10Y.
Sli' l.on~ WAS the only other witness exam
] ined. lie i'siiiiod that the bears were owned
| by 6arret hating Of COney Island and had been
sent To- INN 90 be Kept during the winter No
1 COMPLAINTS. he said. had ever been made Of
the bchfs. ellher hy the people Of the village or
| by visitors driving along the Boulevard
| On the contrary they afforded entertainment
! 10 everybody Whu clme to his place. He had
! always been careful 10 keep them fastened and
had warned the boys not 10 teuse them, although
I thnt had been moro Tor the sake of the bears
than OF the boys as he had never felt the lrnst
| Epprehcnsive Of the bears hurting anybody
! phey had been captured when they were cubs
| tlu peen carefully trained. and had not before
hn1Wh hhy Signs ~ u vicious disposition
Inc foreman declared all evidence tu be in
( hnd sald mat il was Of d sort To- free Mr.. Thoms
from any blame, Mr.. Thoms, he said. ought
! 10 be eN0nerated. and he trusted that mo
7 mry would 20 by the evidence wholly.
! rhe room was cleared tAen of all but the
Jury who remuInad 10 d lilerat They