The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1879-08-16
CHE fafapette Aopertiscr.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of The Parish Of LAFAYETTE
and Of The Town Of VEnMsIIILI0NVILLE,
BEATEN AT HIS OWN GAME.
4 Story about a Man Who Can 'tBear'
as Mach as Bear

/
Flint aud Pere Marquette train the other
day was a full grown black bear. Bruin
had been in captivity for two or three
years, and was on his way East for
geological garden. His owner was allow
ed to ride with him in the baggage car,
and be seemed to think his bear was the
greatest animal on earth. H. was ready
to bet that Bruin could out-hug and out
bite anything human, and was rather dis
appointed when the railroad men refused
to dispute that point with him. He was
indulging 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 country u
Il guess it's BEAR" slowly replied the
other. 'but l see nothing remarkable
about him."
"You don't, eh {? Well, I do Mebbe
you'd like to see him hug that trunk of
yours? What he can't silver when be gets
his paws around it has got to have roots
forty feet under ground.
eve got son back in the car"-refec.
lively observed the old man; and then he
stopped and looked at the bear.
''Your son /? Egad Will you match
your son agin my besfs' chucked the
owner as be danced with delight.
| II guess so.'
"You doa Bring him in Trot him out!
I'll give him all the show he wants and
bet FIVE to one on the bear r
The old man slowly took in a chew of
tobacco, left the car, and when he return
ed he had his son Martin with him.
/ Martin seemed to be about twenty seven
years Of age and little taller than a
|hitching post. He was built on the
ground, with a back like writing desk
and arms which seemed to have been
sawed from railroad ties.
"Maftin, this ere man wants to bet five
to one that his bear can hug you,"
quietly explained the father as the son sat
down on a trunk.
"Yes, that's it-that's just it !" cackled
the owner. "I'll muzzle him so he can't
bite and III bet five to one he'll make you
holler in two minutes !"
"Muzzle your bear" was all that Martin
said as he pulled out ia IS bill and handed
it to the baggage man. The bear man
put up $25 with it, gr!nning like boy in
a cherry tree, and in a minute he had the
bear ready. Martin removed his coat and
paper collar and carelessly inquired:
rs 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 loses his
cash. Now, then, all ready"
] As Martin approached, the bear rose up
with sinful glare in his eye and the two
embraced. It was a sort of back hold,
with no sell out On the crowd.
go for him, Hunyado!" yelled the
bear man as they closed and the bear res
|ponded. One could see BY the set Of his
eyes that he meant to make jelly Of that
young man in York minute, but he fail
ed to do it. Some little triflas stood in
his way. Fo, instance, it wasn't ten
seconds before he realized that two could
Iplay at hugging. Martins hand sank
down IN the bears coat, the shoulder
muscles were called on for duty and at the
first hug the bear rolled his eyes in aston
ishment,
"Go in, Hanyado go in-go in T.
screamed the bear man, and Bruin laid
himself out as if he meant to pull rail-
4 road water tank down
| "You might squeeze little BIT harder,
lmy son." care|essly suggested the father,
as be spit from the open door, and Martin
called out his reserve muscle.
| Each had his best grip. There was no
1tnmbling around to waste breath, bat it
was s,andup, standstil! hugging match.
| Little by little the bears eyes began to
bulge and his mouth to open, and Martins
face slowly grew the color of red paint.
"Hang to him, Hunyado-Iye got mJ
last dollar on your head T. shrieked the
bear man, as he saw q further bulge to
his pets eyes.
| x But it was no use. AL Of a sudden tho
bear began to yell and cough and <ttangle.
he was gorer. Martin knew it, but he
wanted no dispute, and SO he gaze Hanya-
do lift from the floor, a hug which roll
ed his eyes around like pinwheel, end
then dropped him u heap on the floor.