Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-09-26
The Man with a Bear.

on a Flint IL Pere Marquette traiI
the other day, was a full grown
black bear. Bruin had been a cap
tive for two or three years, and wa
on his way east for a geological gar
den. His owner was allowed to rid,
with him in the baggage car, and ht
seemed to think his bear was the
greatest animal on earth. He wa.
ready to bet that Bruin could Oui
hug and out bite any human being
and was rather disappointed when
the railroad men refused to dispute
this point with him. He was in.
dulging in his brsg 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 own
er, who called out:
'sMebbe you think Pm tOting an
old hyena around the countryp
81 guess it's a bear," slowly repli.
ed the other, "but see nothing re-
markable about him."
'You don't eh? Well, 1 do! Meb-
be you'd like to see him hug that
trunk of yours? What he can't sliv-
er when be gets his paws around it,
it has got to have roots forty feet
under ground" !"
'G've got a.son back in the car" "
refectively observed the old man,
and then ne stopped and looked at
the bear.
"Your sOuP Egad! VIII you
match your son against my bear?"
chuckled the owner as he danced
with delight.
'I guess So"
s'YOu do? Bring him in! Trot him
out! rll give him all the show he
wants and bet five to one on the
bear"
The old man slowly took a chew
of tobacco, left the car, and when
he returned he had his son Martin
with him. Martin seemed to be
about 27 years of age and little tall
er than a hitching post. He was
built on the ground, with a back
like a writing desk, and arms which
seemed to have been sawed out of
railroad ties.
''Martin, this 'ere man wants to
bet five 10 one that this bear can out
hug you," quietly remarked the faith
er as the son sat down OIL a trunk.
ayes, that's it-that's just it!'-
cackled the owner. ''I'll muzzle
him so he can't bite, and I'll bet five
to one that he'll make you holler in
two minutes"
"Muzzle your bari" was all that
Martin said, as he pulled out five
dollar bill and handed it to the bag
gage man. The bear man put up S25
grinning like boy in cherry tree,
and in minute he had the bear
ready. Martin removed his coat
and paper collar and carelessly in
quired:
''Is this to be squar' hug, with
no gouging?"
''Jess sc-jess sop replied the bear
man. "You hug the bear and he'll
hug you, and the one who squeals
first loses the cash. Now then, all
ready.p
As Martin approached, the bear
rose up with a sinful glare in his eye
and they embraced. 1t was a sort
of backhold, with sell out on the
crowd. sl.
sfGo for him, Hunvado," yelled the
bear man as they closed, and the
bear responded. One could see by
che set of his eye that he meant to
make jelly out of that young man in
York minute, but he failed to do
it. Some little trifes stood in his
way. For instance 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 the first hug the bear
rolled his eyes in sstonishment.
$50 in, Hunvado-go in-go imp
screamed the bear man, and bruin
laid himself out as if he meant to
pull railroad water tank down.
"You might squeeze little bit
harder, my son." carelessly said the
father, as he spit from the open door,
and Martin called ont his reserved
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 lit
tie the bears eyes began to bulge
and his mouth to open, and Martins
face slowly grew to the color of red
paint.
''Hang to him, Hunvado-Pye
got my last dollar on your head!"
shrIeked the bear man as he saw
further bulge in his pets eyes.
But it was no use. All Of sud-
den the bear began to yell and cough
and strangle. He was a goner.
Martin knew it, but he wanted no
dispute and so he gave Hunvado a
lift from the floor, a hug which roll
ed his eyes around like pin wheels,
and then dropped him on the floor.
''Well, may I be shot!" gasped
the bear man, and ne stood over the
half lifeless heap of hair and claws.
"Martin," said the father as ne
handed him the thirty dollars, you'd
better go back thar and watch our
satchels!"
eyes, I guess So" replied the son,
as he showed the bills in his vest
pocket, and retired without another
word or look at the bear.
That was the bear they were feed
ing Cruel in a saloon on Randolph
St. two evenings agO-one man was
feeding him Cruel and another feel
ing along his spine to find the frac-
ture.
Puck has this gentle hint: Messrs.
w. H. Vanderbilt, w. B. Astor and
Henry Hilton, following the excel
lent example of Mr.. Jay Gould, have
forwarded ten Thousand dollars to
the Howard Association, Memphis.
May Heaven forgive us for this mas