New-York tribune., 1890-06-27
THE FIERCE GRIP OF THE PAN1HEh.
HOW ONE OF THESE ANIMALS KILLED fooN'
BLACK BEAR IN CENTRAL PARK.

HOW ONE OF THESE ANIMALS KILLED foUN'
BLACK BEAR IN CENTRAL PARK.
A Young black bear killed yesterday morn
ing in Central Park by female pahtfer -. i'
Cbit;enden of the law firm of L. L. IL H. H. chit
tender No. 1877 Broadway, who was an cye|"i'hcss
of the occurrence. gives the following Interesting ac
count Of il: Il was Walking with friend past the
ronnouse in Central Park this morning, WHICH,
IIughey' the attendant in charge, called ont 'o III
and Pat two other old and experienced a''ehu'hH'
to come and assist him in capturing Fo"hs o'"'
bear say a quarter grown which had escaped thro"eh
the bars Of its cage My friend and myself entered 10
witness the hunt The doors were closcd ahu 'lc
three attendants rushed the large cage over wmc
yonpg Bruin was leisurev walking. They were not
ouick cnouCh Like a flash a long, hthe' graSiSh'
snakelkc body shot mp from the hoor' pa" WIN
extended claws through the iron bars al 'e 'op
of the cage and the hunt was over. IL was eq""ns
all over with the bear. The mhd-cyed lciha'c
nan,bcr (felis concolor) had taken paw Ill the
business and ended it,
.sTben followed an exhibition Of fcrocy OF when
NO one vould imagine this animal capable. She
rr,,ed the hear through the bars, seized his napc
he+uaan her laws which closed with force under
which I could hear the crushing OF the bear ZONES
Iughey' rushed into the cage with an iron par 10 paI'
the two animals. II was reckless ana usoieSs "''
for tho bear. saw, already dead ana liugheS
vonld soon have been III the same stdVc II INC pm
Mad fastened upon him in her infurlated cohd"'o',
lie was prcd out by main force, and the cat rc'rco"
IN a corner still gTrtSpine her prey. ihe ncdi h''
q leather collar upon its neck Into tiis' ii"m '"o
, y, tho cage an attendant hooked the end OF ROD
ond drov the bear up TO the roof The jaws ot inc
cat were still fast and il now gFasped the pouN oi
tho hear with its extended claws. Hanging In thiN
ou,i,ior tuo attendants beat the animal upon lt'
head and body for two or three minutes ocioie IT
vou,d relax the iron grip Of its Jaws and sullcny
retreat 10 a corner OF the cage The bear was "r"
from tho moment those jaws were fast
"This exhibition throws some ne" Ieh' "n "'
,ronctb and temper of this hcrce't of all the N'ru'
American carnivoras. Tie hunters c'll IL 'o"uI"'
pever inclined 10 attack man II ohanfe lor c>'"lo
is omen It's long snakv body and small he'u uo
not indicate great muscular force. But hahA "lo'
have come down from the early settlers 'of he
eIaupbter by this animal Of full-erown horses anu
cattle and often attacks upon man. ich'i'o'c
Cooper's descriptions well sustained oS theNo
stories which, however, arc usually reearuco ~
naturalists legendary.
"The habit of all the cats to grasp Their prey w
thc neck is well known After the eHnIouon oi I'M
morning after witnessing the fierce enacty "l
the grin Of this animals Jaws, l think no one cond
doubt that iIat grip would be fatal u man OF u!
any domestic animal Inc oruin"N lPcpe,ncd ~ bc
Transformed. 4 fight between full ErowE uecrs j q .
rough and very noisy battle. Madame 'ohcooi
wasted 10 strength Of voice. ohe ud hot M ttcn
crowI Rut the embrace Of the boa constructor
was not closer than Of her four limbs with those
white hooked claws sunk in the pear p"lN' quo
the muscular force which held the Jaw III @ una'
which did not through the sense 0i paih' cause
their voluntary rcldNatOn.'