The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-08-14
The Man With q Bear.

d THU " GIG MdIQuttI6 tIdlu, Guc
other day, was 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 allowed to ride with him in the
baggagc-car, and he seemed to think his
bear was the greatest animal on earth.
He was ready to bet that bruin could
out-hug and out-bite anything human.
and was rather disappointed when the
railroad men refused to dispute this
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 ami
NAL instantly kindled the indignation
of the owner, who called out:
"Mebbe you think Pm toting an old
hyena around the country!''
81 guess it's BEAR" slowly repliep
the other, "but see nothing remark
able about him."
"You don't, Ell? Well, do! Mebbe
you'd like to see 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 ground"
"I've got a son back in the car"
renectively observed the old man, and
then he stopped and looked at the bear.
"Your son? Egad! Will you match
your son agin my bear!'' chuckled the
owner, as he danced with delight.
"I guess sou
"You do! Bring him in! Trot him
out! I'll 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
returned he had his son Martin with
him. Martin seemed to be about twen-
ty-seven years of age and a little taller
than hitching-post. He was built on
the ground, with back like writing
desk and arms which seemed to have
been sawed from railroad ties.
"Martin, this ere man wants to bet
five to one that his bear can out-hug
you," quietly explained the father, as
the son sat down on a trunk.
eyes, that's it-that's just itr'
cackled the owner, "Tll muzzle him
so he can't bite, and I'll bet five to one
he'll make you boiler in two minutes!''
"Muzzle your b'ar!' was all that
Martin said, as he pulled out five dol
lar bill and handed it to the baggage
man. The bear-man put twenty-five
dollars with it, grinning like boy in
cherry-tree, ard in minute he had
the bear ready. Martin removed his
coat and paper collar and carelessly in
quired:
sis this to be a squar' hug, with no
gouging?'
jess so-jess sos 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 a sinful glare in his eye, and
the two embraced. 1t was sort of
back hold, with no sell out on the
crowd.
"Go for him, Hunyador' 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 a York
minute, but he failed to do it. Some
little trifles stood in his way. For in
stance, it wasn't ten seconds before he
realized that two could play 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 establishment. =.
- Go IN, Hunyado-go in-go inr'
screamed the bear man, and bruin
laid himself out as if he meant to pull
a railroad water tank down.
"You might squeeze little BIT
harder, my son." carelessly suggested
the father, as he spit from the open
muscle.
Each had his best grip. There was
no tumbling around to waste breath.
but it was a stand-up, stand-still
hugging match. Little by little the
bears eyes began to bulge and bis
mouth to open, and Martins face
slowly grew to the color of red paint.
"Hang to him, Hunyado-Ive got
my last dollar on your headv' shrieked
the bear man, as he saw a further
bulge to his pets eyes.
But it was no use. All of a sudden
the bear began to yell and cough and
StI duSlCs AAO W0o 6ANA" ~&'~ va :.
knew it, but he wanted no dispute, and
so he gave Hunyado lift from the
floor, hug which rolled his eyes
around like a pin-wheel, and then
dropped him in heap on the floor.
"Well, may be shotr' gasped the
bear-man, as he stood over the half
lifeless 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
satchels!'
eyes, guess so," replied the son,
as he showed the bills in his vest
pocket, and he retired without another
word or look at the bear.
That was the bear they were feeding
Cruel in saloon ON Randolph street
two evenings ago-one man was feed.
ing him Cruel and another feeling
along his spine to find the fracture. -
Detroit Free Press