The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-07-10
THRILLING BEAR STORY.
Child Falls Into "a Bear Pit-Fearful En-
counter.
From the Montreal Witness

counter.
From the Montreal Witness
1t is well known amonga certain class
that "Joe Beef" has bear pit un-
der his canteen on Common street.
1t extends all along under the house,
and is reigned over by big black
bear weighing over 400 pounds. There
are also she bear and two comparative
~ young cubs, which Joe reckons
among his domestic pets. Strangers
frequently visit the place and are gen
orally escorted to see the bears through
trap-door in the floor Yesterday af-
ternoon, while colored preacher was
holding service in the singing ROOM"
three American strangers came to visit
the place, and the trap door was thrown
open to show the bears. While Joe
went into the bar-room his little boy, 6
years old, went too near the edge and
fell into the den. The old bears were
in dark corner, but one of the cubs at
once ran toward the child, who had ut
tered frightened scream. The cook lay
down on the floor, and reaching down
caught the little fellow and raised him
up. The she bear had heard the child's
cries, and with a growl rushed toward
the trap-door and seized the child just
as he was being lifted up. The little
fellow was in an instant dragged into
the den, encircled by the claws of the
old she bear. Joe, hearing the noise
which the fearful sight caused, came to
the door and asked what was the matter
Seeing his child, as it were. in the jaws
of death, he did not hesitate for moment
to think, but leaped from the floor into
the pit, lighting on the head of one Of
the bears. He managed by frantic
effort to tear his child from the savage
monster and threw him behind. In
another instant he handed the little fell
low up among the alnost-paralyzed
spectators The men around seemed so
struck with terror that they could do
nothing to help Joe, who had placed
himself in such imminent danger. The
moment the child was out of the pit the
she bear growled fiercely and sprung on
Joe, who had no arms with which to de-
fend himself. The savage brute seized
him by the right knee, throwing him
on his back. Her teeth were driven
fully an inch deep into his flesh. He
was then completely at the mercy OF the
animal, whose tameness had disap-
peared, it being enraged at having the
child taken away. The men looking on
still seemed powerless to help, though
one of the visitors had a revolver in his
pocket. Joe, however, did not lose his
presence Of lind, but seized brick
which lay near him, and struck the bear
on the snout with all his might. The
brute let go her hold and Joe quickly
got on his feet. The old he bear had
not shown fight at all, but, when Joe
shouted, had skunk back to the dark
corner. The she bear now stood off
showing her teeth, but he continued to
shout and she also went back Joe was
then rescued from the pit, his legs be-
ing covered with blood. The trousers
which he had on were torn to shreds
and his stockings were saturated with |
blood. The child had not been injured |
at all beyond a slight scratch on the
head. Joe says that the she bear was
always contrary beast, and that when
he trained her he used to put her in a
puncheon of water and push her head
under with broom, and, when the cub
was nearly drowned it would bite the
broom. Joe refuses all medical attend
ance, and applies highwines to the bite,
which continues to bleed to-day.