The Washington critic., 1889-04-18
CRUEL, BLOODY SPORT.
DUMB ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED TO
PLEASE UNFEELiNG MEN.
Incredible Brutality on the Part of n
New York Snowman Who Wanted
an Advertisement Equaled by the
Jnsensibiiity OF the Spectators.

lncrcdtbIe brutality on the Bhrt OF n
New York Snowman who Wanted
an Advertisement Equaied by the
Jnsensibility OF the Spectators.
The evening papers of yesterday, says
the New York Ercnipg SIN, contained,
With very few exceptions, glowing ac-
count of the terrible conflict between an
enraged tiger and black be ar at the
Grand street museum, when ended in the
death of the bear. The reports further
stated that the battle was totally unex-
pected feature Of the evenings work at the
museum while some of the attaches were
at work removing the animals in shifting
boxes, preparatory to sending them to the
Forepaugh show In Philadelphia.
Press Agent NJ. j. O'Neill of the Grand
Museum, with his customary enterprise In
getting "write-ups," sent manifold slIel.
eton letter, describing the fight by rounds,
rs II were, TO the various newspapers, In
which he stated that the "reporters who
were present at the time had agreed upon
the following story.n The story was not
complete In detail, but in foot-note the
subscriber suggested that the editor could
have one OF his staff insert "fiery eyes,
cleaning teeth,n etc, ad libitim, so as to
give the proper glowing colors TO the
picture.
With the exception of the EUoning Sun
and the Mail and ETprcsS, the papers caught
on TO the little scheme OF tho press agent,
and published various incorrect accounts OF
the CORY ARRAY. The EUeaing Sun received
copy of the skeleton letter, hut being en-
tirely ont Of "fery eyes" and ''gleaming
teeth" was compelled to forego publica-
tion until such time rs the story could be
thoroughly investigated.
This work was assigned to a reporter yes
terday, and this morning he was In posses
sion Of all the facts. That the fight was
'faker there is not the slightest shadow of
a doubt, but that IL was premeditated
bloody slaughter, with the bear for a vic
tim, is none the less a fact.
Enterprising Mn O'Neill, as far back as
last Wednesday evening, notified number
Of his personal acquaintances connected
with various newspapers that on Sunday
evening at 10 o'clock there would be
afforded to select few at the museum such
n sight Of blood and slaughter as had
seldom, II ever, delighted the audiences In
the Coliseum at Rome In the dark days OF
the reign OF cruel Nero.
Gladiatorlal contests, wherein men torn
by wild beasts, and where lions and tigers
devoured each other, for the amusement
and edification Of the noble Romans,
were to he fairly outdone. In fact, the
manager Of the museum, he said, would
sacrifice several OF his valuable animals for
the sake of affording such q spectacle TO the
newspaper men of New York as had never
been conceived or attempted before.
So, when the hour approached, news
nm IA
vicinity of Grand street and Second avenue,
and they were all bent in the direction OF
the Grand Museum. BY the time the hour
had struck they were all inside the place
and had been conducted to the top floor
front, where Mr.. Peck has his cozy office.
On table in the main Office stood num-
Der Of enticing bottles labelled Pomery
Sec and similar things, while on the roll
top desk of Mr.. Barry reposed several
boxes OF excellent Grand street for. de
fumigatos. The reporters who had gath
cred there to see the sport were first primed
and fumigated, and then the procession
took up its way toward the arena. In some
cases courage WAS lax, but repeated liba-
tions brought II up TO the required pressure,
and the crowd was ready for anything.
Mr.. William Patterson-he declines to
answer TO the name of Billy-led the way
He has in his charge the various animals
dens OF leopards, hyenas, wolves and soil
tary old, harmless black bear, so tame and
gentle that he was pet with all the littl,
folks who visited the place.
His teeth had long since dropped ont
and his claws, the only weapons Nature
had given him for defense, had becom,
worn short from long confinement In
iron-barred cages. He was quartered on
the top floor Of the building in one-half OF
4 ~ L.. NL... l.al - I.ts
domicile dwelt half-grown coyote, also
very tame and great pet with the children
But these two animals had lived sc
quietly and peacefully and had done so lit
tie in the way of creating scenes and excite
ment that press agents thought IL was time
they had little fun and made some free
advertising for the house. SO the house
agreed that the gladiator, Billy Patterson
should hurl the poor old bear into II, turn
loose full grown and ferocious tiger upon
1t and the boys should have something To
write a story about.
"But suppose the bear won't fghtY
queried one Of the reporters who was there
"0h, he'll have to defend himself, but
that's all the good It will do him. He's 0
dead bear, and don't you forget IL. He'
old, anyhow, and we've no further use fo
him. Come on and see him git chavez
up.n And the soft-hearted keeper led poo
old Tommy out of his cage like a pet dog
Tommy licked his keepers hands, expect
| ing some sugar or sweatmeats as he hat
been taught to look for. He was led dow
stairs as gentle and dosile as child, ant
| halted in front Of the tigers den. Th
| keeper made an effort to drag him in from
| of the big cat and within reach of his terri
| BILE claws, but the instinct Of the bear causeC
him to hold back with all his declining
| strength.
In trying to get him close enough to tn,
bars for the tiger to rip him open with hi
| claws Mr.. Patterson came within range ant
| was struck quicker than lightning. Hi
| clothing was torn, but he leaped out o
harms way before any serious damage wa
| inflicted. II seemed sort Of retributiol
upon him that he was the first to feel thos
sharp claws.
When he learned that he couldn't get th
bear up to the bars he called for a rope
| One was brought, and moose was slippeC
| over the bears head. The line was passed
through ring at the top OF the tigers cage
and then dozen strong arms pulled II taut
Poor old Tommy whined piteously as h
realized the horrible fate IN store for hin
| and fought desperately for his life. But |
was not with a beast, armed with only ma
ture's weapons, he had to contend, Men
or beings in semblance Of men, with nature
more fiendish than ever tiger possessed
were his foes.
They pulled upon the rope harder an,
harder. Poor Tommy's head fell over t,
one side, his eyes started from their sockets
but still the pressure on that cruel rope in
creased. Tommys tongue hung out AM
| his eyes were now sightless. Another pul
on the rope and his troubles were ended.
The tigers claws aud fangs sank deepl,
| into his throat, and he tore his throat ant
| head into shreads while the rope held hin
immovably fixed TO the bars. II only laste,
few seconds, and all was over. Tomm
had served his masters last purpose, an
| had given up his life for the qualification q