New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05
TITO BEARS.
AN INTERRUPTED AUCTION.

Scranton. Penn, Oct. 2S.-"Jake. how'll We trade
bears? asked Hank Reynolds of Jake Ketcham
one morning this month. Hank leaning over
Jake's dooryard fence on Catbird Creek. and Jakes
tame bear Pocono payfuiy performing
pole in the yard.
"Ill trade We my bear fur yourn Hank" said
Jake. fur three bushels 'taters to boot"
"All right" Hank replied. fetch your bear over
to my place next Sunday and I'll do it,"
mo- | can't do that. Hank" said Ketcham
"'cause It's too fur and the COINS bad; but I'll
tell ye what will do though. Mr.. Gardners goin
to have vandue next Friday. Bring your bear to
his place that day, and I'll take mine up there and
we'll trade. But don't fergt the 'taters. Hank"
That's fair enough, Jake" Reynolds said, Its
a bargain
Reynolds lives on Shadberry HILL six miles from
Ketchams, and Burton G. Gardner owns farm
Goose Pond Run. about half way between
Reynolds came down to Gardeners place on Friday
of last week with three bushels of potatoes in a
blackboard wagon, and his tame bear Toby htched
to the rear Toby and Pocono twin brothers.
but they hadn't seen one another since Mike Noonan
stole them from their mother In Days Swamp
four years ago last spring. when they were small
cubs
When Auctoneer W. III. Evans mounted barrel
and started to sell COW. Reynolds led Toby to
corner Of the barnyard and let him amuse himself
by gnawng bone. ketcham up the
road with Pocono In tow, and marched him into
the barnyard at the end Of chain. Toby growled
at sight of Pocono, Pocono growled back, and the
next instant both bears broke away from their
owners and cllnchcd. Reynolds and Ketcham yelled
and kicked at their pugnacious pets, but the bears
IN for bloody battle and they speedily got
rid Of their collars. rolled and tumbled. clawed and
bit. plunged through the crowd Of bidders. and
knocked the barrel from under the auctioneer's
feet just he asking. do hear more?"
Auct!oneer Evans climbed up a stack OF buck
wheat straw in hurry. and the bears tore around
the barnyard TIL the cattle and sheep stampeded
to the road and fields BY that time all the bidders
had fed and the auctoneer sang cut from his perch
the stack How much am / offered for the
bears?" Two ccnts!" somebody yelled back from
the road. whereat the auctioneer shouted 'Sold."
at the top OF his lungs
Meantime Ketcham and Reynolds dubbed and
kicked the fighting bears with all their might. but
the bears clawed and bit and pummeled one an
other as though they had always been Wild The
fur and blood flew. and the bears tipped over the
watering trough. upset wagon, smashed cutter
into kndling wood. broke through the siding of a
she'd and rolled into the meadow, where they
and turned tail. and the men rushed In with clubs
and pitchforks and separated them. Ketcham ran
Pocono into a stable. and Reynolds put rope
Both bears were badly used up. Mr.. Gardner made
Reynolds and Ketcham pay him 81 each for the
damage the bears had done to- his property.
three bushels Of 'tatcrs to boot instead of me
givin EN- to you. Your bear amt good" said
Reynolds
But you have troGed" said Jake. land I'm goin'
later
Guess not said REYNOLDS; Toby and the
nag and started, and Kecham had to take his
bear back to Catblrd Creek.