The St. Johns herald., 1891-07-23
A DOCTORS FREE RIDE.
It Was on the Back of a Huge
 Black Bear.
The Ludicrous Scene Presented by the Son of EscuIapius in His HeadlOng Charge on His Singular
 Steed.

Dr. Irvine Matthews, of Milan, Tenn,
 while on a professional visit recently to
 patient some three miles west of this
 place, had curious adventure with a
 bear. He was driving along in a gig,
 writes a correspondent of the Chicago
 Journal, and had just crossed the south fork of the Obion river, and was pass ing along heavy growth of cane, when he heard an unearthly noise behind him. He turned, glancing leisurely over his shoulder, and what was his surprise to see a big black bear running after the gig.
 Mr. Matthews said he had no business with that fellow, and whipped his horse up to a faster trot. The horse at first went along smoothly, but soon snifing bruin, became manageable. The horse reared and pitched about, and Dr. Matthews knew the bear would be up with him presently, which would lend worse face to affairs, and tried every way possible to sooth the horse, but
 finally getting over-excited at the un- ruly animal, he struck him on the flank with all the strength at his command,
  start, causing the unwary physician to complete a somersault in the air, and as he came down from among the clouds he landed astraddle of the bears back.
 This was a surprise to bruin, who pitched out as fast as he could travel. Dr. Matthews clung to his shaggy steed, however, and having his riding spurs ha in bT.11i e n1r which added more than ever to the big, black bears desire to get away from this terrible enemy. The bear fairly flew over the rough road, his tongue lolling and his stubby tail thrown to the passing breeze, with the daring doctor holding on for dear life. Dr. Matthews had retained his grip on the whip as he went over backwards from his gig, and, being an adventurous sort of fellow, he cracked bruin over the head with the butt end of the whip.
 This added to the bears already ex- cited nature, and he came to @ sudden stop, but the doctor was there, too. Bruin then lay down and rolled over, clawing at the air savagely, but Mat thews held on for dear life. When the bear stood up on his feet the physician cracked him over the head again, and away went the bear with his awful rider. Never did a Mazeppa run faster than that terrified bear, nor mortal man pray harder than the disciple of Galen. On they went, over that rough road, the bear not knowing what he was doing, and the doctor scared to death. Again the bear came to stop, and again he rolled over, but the doctor chung to him like grim death. The bear was evident ly puzzled.
 Here was foe on his back who was out of his reach. The bear didn't know what to do. He commenced a slow trot. This didn't suit the daring doctor, so he cracked him over the head again with his heavy whip, and bruin pulled out again. He turned into the woods and crashed against trees, shrubs and logs, but the doctor was deter mined to stick it out with bruin Blow ing and snorting they went through swampy pools, over logs and brush, and came out across another road.
 A farmer by the name of George Seaton and a negro named Ben Frank lin were just coming down the road at canter. The negro yelled: "Lord Er' mighty" and turning down the road he flew as fast as his horses legs could carry him, while Seaton's horse bucked with him and threw him against a brush pile on the side of the road.
 But the bear, evidently, wasn't stop ping to inquire into particulars. He was bolting through those woods for dear life. The doctor was just begin ming to enjoy the ride, In moment a bluff loomed up, and bruin had such a headWay on him he couldn't stop, so over they went. The doctor let go, and fell into the river below, while the bear landed on the other side, and with a yelp, thankful to be released of his enemy, he left in a hurry. The doctor swan out, sore and tired, and had six miles to walk after his horse With sore shins and sorer head he trudged the distance, secured his horse and gig and came home. His friends now call him ''the bear tamer."