Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-21
BEARS In ALLEGHENY.
Lassoed by Two officers Who We're
Not Afraid of Grizzlies.
A GUARDPLACED ON THE ANIMALS.
The Cap;ives Form a Strong Attachment
for Their Captors.
WAR BETWEEN THEATRICAL MANAGERS

Two big black bears have created con-
siderable trouble in the two cities during
the past week, and, as a result, the ferocious
pair is now under the surveillance OF the
law in the person of two deputy constables-
The fact that the bears are partially tanned
and part of the exhibit of local museum
does not materially detract from the in
terest of recital of their experience here
The bears are owned BY Melville & Co.,
from somewhere in the East, and had been
engaged for appearance at Harry Davis
Museum, in this city, for the present week,
Mr. Davis spending S196 the previous week
in advertising them to the public as the
greatest performing bears alive, to be seen
only at his place of amusement, as his con-
tract warranted him in doing. But 1t seems
Melville & Co., when they came here two
weeks ago, received an offer of a two weeks
engagement at the Worlds Museum, In
Allegheny, and accepted it forthwith.
Rubbing 1t in on Their Rival.
After the first week in Allegheny had
closed, the World people were not slow to
take advantage of the opportunity, and at
once advertised widely that the big black
bears billed to appear in a Pittsburg house
could only be seen at their place.
Mr.. Davis was naturally chagrined at
being defeated, but was in quapdary as to
the best way to get even without giving the
other house the benefit of big free ad.
Accordingly he waited until yesterday to
present a claim for the S196 he had e1-
pended, and which had been lost by Mel
Vile & Co.'S change of plans. The claim
was refused Davis then went before Mag
istrate McKenna and entered suit, the Mag
istrate issuing writ of attachment, which
was placed in the hands of Constable
Sweeney and two deputies yesterday after
noon.
When the officers proceeded to Allegheny
to serve the writ. they were blandly met by
Melville & Co., who discussed the situation
for a few moments before entering the
building. In the meantime, one of the bear
tanners disappeared within the building, and
a few moments later Melville & Co., feign-
ing acceptance of the situation, said to the
officers: ''The bears are our only property.
Go and take them"
Capturing Two Half-Tamed Grizzlies.
The officers, on entering the apartment of
the bears, soon learned what the tanner had
zled, savage, and the task of serving a writ
of attachment on them looked formidable.
But Harry Davis had anticipated just such
contingency as this, and had had two
experienced animal tanners sworn in as
deputies to serve the writ The deputies
were provided with ropes, hooks and the
other paraphernalia necessary, and as soon
as within reach cleverly lassoed the bears,
and before the thoroughly astonished Mel
Vile & Co. realized it had the property
ready for transportation. The bears howled
and struggled at their strange experience,
but their most vigorous efforts failed to Sc
cure their release and the owners called for
parley, which resulted in the temporary
release of the frightened animals. Consta-
Bile Sweeney withdrew, leaving the deputies
on guard until 10 o'clock this morning, by
which time the amount of Mr.. Davis claim
will be settled or the writ will go into
effect.
In the interim there are two expert bear
tanners keeping an eye on the grizzlies, who
at last accounts seemed to have formed
strong attachment for their new masters