Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-15
BEAR ON HIS sIRES SIDE.
A Canine That Combines the Advantages
of Two species OF Ouadrupeds.

A Canine That Combines the Advantages
of Two species OF Quadrupeds.
A great deal of superstition exists in
the ranks OF the theatrical profession.
Many Of them carry canine pets,
and they are looked upon as mascots by
their owners. Some of our leading
stars OF the theatrical armament con-
stantly carry dogs with them and feel
that their financial success depends in
great measure on their dumb friends.
This was especially the case with the
late lamented Joe Emmett. Poor "Fritz'
paid as high as S., 900 for a st. Bernard,
which wasalways by his side, and now
that the dog has followed his master
the tongue OF superstition wags in the
dressing rooms of the country.
There is at present at the Madison
Street Opera House very intelligent
dog, with peculiar history and re-
markable pedigree. He Is probably the
only one Of his kind In existence. His
dam was thoroughbred Nefoundland
and his sire Michigan black bear. His
pedigree, strange as it Is, is vouched for
by his present owner, Oscar Sisson; also
by Sam Il. Black, manager of the opera
house, and NJ. j. O'Neill. Mr.. Ssson
owned the dam and sire of the dog, and
used to exhibit them, together with a
coyote, a lamb, wolf, rooster, cat,
rat and other animals at county fairs
as "happy family"
A group of gentlemen were seated In
Mr.. O'NeilI's Office the other night, and
dogs were the subject Of discussion.
Many interesting incidents were related
by those present, when Mr.. Sisson asked
leave to introduce his dog Beaver. or
course the leave was granted. Mr..
Sisson went to the stage speaking tube
and whistled thrice.
off he lis on the stage he will answer
me through the tube" explained Mr..
Ssson.
Sure enough there presently came a
bark through the tube.
SIS that you, Beaver?" queried the
dogs owner?"
"Bow-wow-wow," came the reply.
"Come TO the main office; l have a
rubber ball for you.
"Bow-wow-wow-wow and minute
later came a scratching at the office
door. On opening the door Beaver
leaped in and into the arms Of his
owner. The dog, by actual measure
ment, is ID inches high only, 80 inches
long, from snout to tail-tip; the body
an exact fac-simile OF bears body, the
eyes black and beady, and the paws ex-
actly IKE those of bear. He possesses
enormous strength in his forepaws, and
when fighting another dog he stands
erect to do the hugging act, like a bear.
His capers in this way usually win his
battles for him, because he takes his
adversary. so by surprise that the fight
is made easy, aud as he squeezes the
wind out of his opponent in a little
while he finds it no trouble to whip
other dogs to a standstill.
He;has been ptted against some very
game dogs, for he Is a natural fighter
and has very seldom been 'done." His
body is sQuatty, his movements those OF
a.oear, and at times he emits growl
much Hke that of the latter animal.
His tail is not more than three inches
long and is probably the most curious
thing about him. 1t is to all appear
'ances and uses the caudal appendage OF
q we'll developed bruin, bnt instead OF
being wagabe from side to side like the
ordinary cBnine tail it works on joint,
much like that of the human finger in
shape and action, and Beaver is forced
to WORK it up and down like the handle
of a village pump--Chicdgo Times.