The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-09-17
WHOLE NO. l47L, |,


Among the baggage coming dowt
on q Flint aud Pere Marquette traif
the other day was foil grown blsei
bear. Bruin bad been in captivity
for two or three years. and was OF
bis way East for geological garden
, His owner was allowed to ride witt
him in the baggage car, and be seem
ed to think bis bear was the creates
animal on earth. He was ready. u
bet that bruin could out hug and out
bite anything human, and was rathel
disappointed when the railroad men
refused to dispute that point witt
him. He was induIging in his brag
when an old man cams into the ca
to see about his trunk. He saw the
J bear of course, bnt the glance Of con
tempt he bestowed on the animal 10
stantly kindled the Indignation OF tbs
owner, who called out:
1 "Mebbe you think I'm toting au
old hyena around the country ?"
IL guess it's bear" slowly re
piled the other, "bus see nothing re.
markable about him"
"You don't, eh? Well, / do! Meb.
De you'd like to see him hug that
trunk of yours? What be cant sliv-
er when be gets his paws around has
| got to have roots forty feet under the
ground T
"I've got son back in the car,
refectively observed the old man,
and then he stopped aud looked at
the bear.
"Your song Egad! viii you
match your son against my bear ?''
chuckled the owner as he danced
with delight.
Il guess So"
"You do? Bring him inl Trot him
outl III give bin all the show he
wants and bet Eve to one on the
bear.n
The old man slowly took a chew
of tobacco, loft the car and when be
returned be had bis son Martin with
him. Martin seemed 10 be about 81
years of age, and little taller than
a 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 10 one that bis bear can out-hug
you," quietly remarked his father, as
be sat down on trunk
Eyes, that's it--that's just it :" ex-
claimed the owner. 'I'Il mezzIe him
so be can't bite and I'll bet FIVE to
one that he'll make you aoller in two
minutesr'
"Muzzle yer barr vas ell that
Martin said, as ne pulieu out 3 So bill
and handed it to the -baggsgeman.
The bear man put $25 with o. grin
ming like boy in q cher Y trt-, and
in a minute he had the lear sady.
Martin removed his coat and care
lessly inquired
''Is this to be squar' hug, with
no gouging 2"
Jess so-jessl" replied the bear
man. "You hug the bear and the
bear viii bug you, and the one who
squeals FIRST loses the cash. No.,
then, all readyp
As Martin approached the bear
rose up with sinful glare IL his eye,
and the two embraced. 1t was q
sort of backhold, with no sell out
go for him, Hunyado ~ yelled the
bear man, as they closed and the
bear responded. Il was not ten sec
onds before he realized that two could
play at hugging. Martins hand sank
down 10 the bears coat, the shoulder
muscles were called on for duty, and
at the frs. hug the bear rolled his
ewes in estonishment.
"Go ia, Huny ado-go in, go in !"
screamed the bear man, and bruin
laid himself out as if he meant to
pull railroad water tauk down.
"You might squeezs little harder
my son." carelessly suggested the
father, as he spit from the open door,
aud Martin called out his reserve
muscle.
Each had his best grip. There
was no tumbling around to waste
breath, bat it was standup, stand
still hugging match. Little by little
the BEARS eyes began to bulge and
bis mouth to open, and Martins face
slowly grew 10 the color Of red
paint. H
"Hang to him, Huny ado I've go.
my last dollar on your head !" yelled
the bear man, as be saw further
bulge in his pets eyes.
But it was no use. All of sudden
the bear began to veil and cough and
strangle. He was q goner. Martin
knew it, bur he wanted no dispute,
and 80 be gave Hunyado lift from
the floor, . bug which rolled bis eyes
around ike pin-wheel, and then
dropped him in . heap on the floor
"Well, may be shot :" gasped the
bear man, as be stood over the half
Hfeless heap of hair and claws.
Martin" said the father, as he
handed him $50, you'd better 60
back thar and watch our satchels.p
"Yes, guess.p replied the son,
as he showed the bills in bis vest
pocket, and he retired without anoth-
err word or look at the bear
That was the bear they were feed
ing grnel in a saloon on Randolph