Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-10-08
BESSIE IN THE BEARS PIT.
Az TNcrINu sCENE At TiE "zDO"
~ CHICAGO.

tNee lori Rsccr'isrl
Bessie Russell, thrcc.yoar.old
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. IL. Russell,
has had an experience with beam that
many mountainous have never On.
Joycd. Bcsslc aud her mother aud
father recently visited Chicago, aud In
taking In the sights, went 10 the bear
pit at the 1900" Bessie took great
delight gazing AZ tho animals. Her
papa purchased for her some cake.
When they went 10 thp bear pit the
huge ungainly brdtes sat on their
launches 10 catch In their capaclous
mouths the crumbs thrown them by
the laughing child. who danced met.
rlly up aud down Ia her fathers arms.
with no thought of danger, the
father lonuod against the Iron fence
aud held his llttle daughter high up No
that she could watch the numbering
movements Of the uncuuth beasts In the
pit. She olapped her hands merrily as
One Of Thorn fell backward IN vain
cndcRvor 10 seize n piece VI cake. Just
then she gayuR little Jump aud loos-
encd her fathers hold. He tried 10
scize her dress toO,late. Down among
tho hairy brutes she rolled, and n groan
OF horror went up from the crowd
which witnessed the affair.
the father never hesitated. Placing
one hand on the iron fence lac vaultod
over aud fell scfambllng aud rolling
ON the rock bottom Of the pit. Little
Bessie had fallen plump on top of one
Of the big brutes, and she appeared un-
injured.
There were several bears In tho pit
into which the child had lallen--slcek
looking, well.ied fellows, whose meat
digestive powers had long since been
ruined by sweotmcats aud cakes, They
seemed more astonl-hed than angry ut
the prcclpltalc arrival OF the visitors,
and showed no inclination TO eat them.
Mr.. Russell seized the baby In his
arms, the bears looking on In seeming
wondorment nj this unexpected addi-
ton to their family. The bear pit IL
about fifteen feet In depth, being con.
structod OF rough rock. Around the
inside, about ten feet from the ground,
row VI curved, sharp pointed iron
spikes have been placed 10 prevent the
bears climbing out. These seemed TO
present very eifcctuAl barrier 10 Mr..
ltussel's escape, loaded down ar no was
with his burden,
Everything was excitement. Women
screamed, men shouted and swOre, hut
none msde any effort 10 rescue the
man and child. Every ons had lost
his head. ON the ground by the sido
Of the pit, lay polls which had been
used 10 remove some debris from the
pit. On the end Of the pole was hook.
One Of the men recovered his senses,
aud picking up tho pole, thrust the
end OF II down inG the pit. Mr.. Rus
rel placed the hook under belt which
was around the little girls wuiEi, and
slowly and carefully the precious bur
den was pulled 10 the top.
One Of the bears seemed DESTROYS Of
becoming acquainted with Mr.. Rus.
sell anu IN u diiiident manner shullled
slowly up 10 him. Mr.. Russell was
watching the man with the pole, and
the frat intination he had Of danger
was when Bruin stood on his hind legs
aud looked calmly into his face. With
n yell he sprang backward, and with a
stout cauO, which had tumhlud with
him when he Jumped, he dealt In
qul-itive Bruin a sound whack on tho
snOut. The bear gave snort OF terror
aud palm Bruins nose is his most
tender spOi-and he slunk bowling into
a corner. The other bears kept re-.
spectiul distance.
With tho help Of the pole Mr.. Rus
sci then succeeded In quickly making
his way to the top, with no injuries
except bruised knee and a badly
damaged suit Of clothing. Mrs. Rus,
vol had tainted, but kind hands quickly
Tnsusoitated her, and she sobbingiy
clasped her little darling TO her breast,