The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-07-11
THRILLING BEAR STORY.
A Child Falls Into Bear Pit-FearfuI En-
counter.
From the Montreal Witness

counter.
From the Montreal Witness
1t is well known among 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
ly yourg cubs, which Joe reckons
among his domestic pets. Strangers
frequently visit the place and are gen.
orally escorted to see the bears through
a trap-door in the floor. Yesterday af-
ternoon. while a 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 Law
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 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 a 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 almost 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 m ind, but seized a brick
which lay near him, and struck the bear
IN the snout with all his might. The
oiute let go her hold and Joe quickly
got on his feet. The old he bear had
lot shown fight at all, but, when Joe
shouted, had skunk back to the dark
corner. The she bear now stood of
moving her teeth, but he continued to
hout and she also went back. Joe was
ben rescued from the pit, his legs be-
ng covered with blood. The trousers
which he had on were torn to shreds
nd his stockings were saturated with
'lood. The child had not been injured
t all beyond slight scratch on the
lead. Joe says that the she bear was
lways contrary beast, and that when
lie trained her he used to put her in
of water and push her head
lnder with broom, and, when the cub
Vas nearly drowned it would bite the
room. Joe refuses all medical attend
nee, and applies highwines to the bite,
'hich continues to bleed to-day.