The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-20
FELL IN A BEAR PIT.
The Thrilling Experience of a
Little Child.
Down Among the Hairy Brutes She Rolled and
e. q Groan Of Horror Went Up From the
Spectators

When Mrs. Fl. Russell of Minneapolis
tucked the bed-clothing snugly around hel
little three-year-old daughter Bessie last
night she bowed her head and breathed q
PRAYER of thanksgiving fol the miraculous
return of her goden-haired little darling
from the jaws of death. The innocent blue
eyes of the child had but few hours before
gazed into the faces of the bears in the Lin.
coin Park Zoo" and had felt their hoi
breath on her cheek.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russell registered at the
Auditorium Hotel. Yesterday afternoon
they spent at Lincoln Park, and the little
girl Bessie took great delight gazing at the
animals. Her papa purchased for her some
cake. When they went to the bear-pit the
huge, ungainly brutes sat on their launches
to catch in their capacious mouths the
crumbs thrown them by the laughing child,
who danced merrily up and down in heI
fathers arms.
With no thought of danger, the father
leaned against the iron fence and held his
little daughter high up so that she could
watch the numbering movements of the un.
cOuth beasts in tile pit. She clapped heI
hands merrily as one of them fell backward
in vain endeav0r to seize piece of cake
j ust then she gave little jump and loosened
her fathers hold. He tried TO seize her
dreSs-toO late-down among the hairy
DtultS SIG IOitu, anu REOhH OIL nOrTOI
went up from the crowd which witnessed
the affair.
The father never hesitated. Placing one
hand Oh the iron fence he Sauted over and
fell Scrambing and rolling on the rock bot
tom of the pit. Little Bessie had fallen
plump on top OF one Of the big brutes, and
she appeared uninjured.
There we're several bears in the pit into
which the child had fallen-Sleek- looking
well-fed fellows. whose meat-digrstive pow
ers had long since been ruined by sweet
meats and cakes. They seemed more aston
ished than angry at the pfeciptate 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 wonder
ment at this unexpected addition to their
family. The bear-pit is about fifteen feet
in depth, being constructed of rough rock.
Around the inside, bout ten feet from the
ground, row OF curved, sharp pointed iron
spikes have been placed to prevent the
bears climbing out. These seemed to pre-
sent a very etfectual barrier to Mr.. Russels
escape, loaded down as he was with his
burden.
Everything was excitement. Women
screamed, men shouted and swore, but none
made any effort to rescue the man and child
Every one had lost his head. On the ground,
by the side of the pit, lay d pole which had
been used to remove some debris from the
-
One of the men recovered his senses and,
picking up the pole. thrust the end OF it
down into the pit Mr.. Russell placed the
hook under belt which was around the
little girls waist, and slowly and CAREFUL y
the precious burden was pulled to the to p.
One of the bears seemed DESTROYS of be-
coming acquainted with Mr.. Russell and in
q diffident manner shuff1ed slowly up to
him. Mr.. Russell was watching the man
with the pole, and the first intimation he
had of danger was when bruin stood up on
his hind legs and looked calmly into his
lace. With yell he sprung backward, and
with stout cane which had tumbled with
him when lie jumped he dealt inquisirive
bruin a sound whack on the snout The
bear gave snort Of terror and pan-bruin' IS
nose is his most tender spot-and he skunk
bowling into corner. The other bears
kept respectful distance.
With the help of the pole Mr.. Russell then
succeeded in quickly making his way to the
top. with no injuries except bruised knee
and badly damaged suit of clothing. Mrs.
Russell had tainted, hut kind hands quickly
resuscitated her and she sobbingly ciasped
her little darling to her breast.-Chicago
News.