Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09
Trimmed His Toe Nails

Monarch, a San Francisco grizzly bear,
has been in confinement nearly twenty
months. Only once has Monarch been out
of his narrow den, and that was once when
the native sons gave him holiday and a
ride in their great possession. The steal
lining of the den has afforded the bear no
opportunity to wear his claws down by
scratching, process that goes on contin-
ually when such an animal is wandering
at will i'll the mountains, and consequent
ly, they have grown to such length as to
seriously inconvenience him. A few DAYS
ago the claws on his right paw became
crossed and so locked together that he
could not disentange them, and Superin-
tende1t Gonimus noticed that Monarch
favored that as if it were sore, and feared
that some serious trouble might develop
1t was decided that the claws must be cut,
and the operation was undertaken. Mon
arch has not been accustomed to the at
tentions of a Ianicure, and he began to
protest as soon as he saw the fist prep ra-
ton made. The first step was strengthen
ing the cage, to withstand the assaults
that he was sure to make upon the bars,
by setting heavy timbers and braces
against the front The grizzly knew that
some interference with him was contemp-
lated, and he growled at the carpenters
and everybody else who came near his den
FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS
they unanswered to get Monarchs paw
into moose, but his skill in defense was
equal to theirs. He knew they were after
his paws, and he persisted in doubling
them under his body and lying down upon
them. He never lost his head or got rat
tied, and it was impossible to catch him
off his guard When he became warm
and thirsty he went straight to his water
trough in front corner of the cage, swept
the rods and ropes out of his way and
drank, keeping his paws under him and
defeating every effort to ensnare while he
was drinking. He was not aggressive as a
rule, although once or twice he lost his
temper and tried to get hold of the men
whom he regarded as his wanton tormen-
tors.
He made a determined, intelligent, de-
fensive fight, and royal good fight it was,
winning respect for his courage and ad-
miration for his intelligence, quickness,
strength and skill. Once, after a very hot
and very lively bout with ropes and rods,
when the men tried to confuse him and
catch him off guard, he stood in a corner,
exerted his enormous strength against the
iron roof and then lifted up his voice in a
long, deep howl of despairing rage. The
action was eloquently expressive. 1t
plainly said: IF could only get out of
this den for a moment and have fair
chance with these fellows who are poster
ing mel"
BUT HE COULD NOT GET OUT,
AMI an accident soon gave the men their
opportunity. While Monarch and all
hands we've resting and taking breath a
moose fell over the bears arm. As soon
as it was noticed four men seized the rope
and hauled it taut. Monarch's disgust at
being caught was great, and for the next
FIVE minutes that cage seemed to be packed
full Of mad bears, while the men on the
rope were whipped about like flies on a
string. In his struggles the bear rolled
over upon his back and his paw was
drawn up to the bars. One grrat claw was
clipped off with blacksmith's pinchers
and the crossed claws were entaneled.
Then it was seen that in the course of the
fight Monarch had broken off the curved
points of seven claws, and as the pincers
proved to be not very efficient tools with
which to manicure a bear, the claws
being too tough to be cut readily, further
operations were abandoned for fear that
some of the mains might be torn out by
the roots. The moose was removed, and
Monarch arose, painting and growing.
and retired to a corner, where he gathered
his paws beneath him and regarded the
crowd with an air of mingled wonder and
reproach. Half an hour later old Monarch
was munching bread ard licking the
slight wounds be had received in the row.