Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-01-10
GEN. SHERMAN'S BEAR.
Amusing Antics OF Bruin On a Eevenu,
Cutter.

Amusing Antics OF Bruin On Eevenu,
Cutter.
In the early spring of 1866. l wa,
ordered by the Hon. Secretary OF the
Navy to go to Detroit Michigan, and
assume command of the United
States revenue steamer "Dix' ther
preparing for q cruise on the lakes
My instructions were to proceed Il
the head waters of Lake Superior
and there await the arrival from St
Paul, of Gen. William T. Sherman,
L. S. A, and his staff, and u pldc,
my command under his direction
while he was visiting the frontier
fortifications.
On the day after our arrival Con
eral Sherman made his appearance
accompanied by his stan, and the,
waTe 7, ceiyed with all hOuorS
We visited a mum Der Of the Goa.
Notifications in the region, and ar
rived finally at Grand Portage SOoI
after coming to anchor here, we re
Ceived a call from the Indian agent
who informed US that the Indian
would like To have a talk with Gen
eral Sherman. The General oppressed
his willingness to grant their request
and the next morning was appointed
for the interview On reaching thu
shore W wer1 c COTtci by the agent
to the place of meeting, who, w
found a gOOdly number of Indians sit
ting around 4 campfire with tht
principal chief standing in ~ mid
die. We took seats assigned us il
the circle, and we were treatsd tt
cooked ycnisOn, after which the
pipe of y aCe' was handed round
each ore taking a puff or two from
It's stem. Pres ntly from tha ar o.,
the camp an old chief approached
leading a young black b-ar. Walking,
up to General Sherman, he stated
that his people wished to present tn,
bear to him, and hoped tn Genera.
would receive it. The Generate
kindly disposition would not permit
him to decline the gift, so it wa
graciously accepted. But at the cloSt
OF the ceremonies, AMI after the In
dians had gone, came the important
question; What was to be done with
Bruin? General sherman frankl,
said he did not want him
The other officers de lining the gif.
tn General turn to me. and eins
very fond Of animals | promptly ac
cepted the h ar, hoped TO tamr
him, and really anticipated mucf
pleasure with my ncw-found friend
Little did | realize all that was il
store for me. We soon returned L
the ship, Bruin was tumbled on board
the anchor Catheadcd, and we wcrt
once again at sea" Bruin was knOwt
, as General SheTman'S bear" and aI
lowed to roam about at his own sw e.
will. He was quiet for the fir t few
days and seemed to be taking in the
situation, and laying plans for The
future. l was determined that, i
possible, we should be the best o.
friends; and as he was very fond .,
sugar, l concluded to cultivate hit
friendship by this means. In a short
time Bruin discovered that I KEPT
myself supplied with Jumps OF sugar
and he was constantly trying t. gel
his head into my pocket Often.
when l was sitting in a camp-Chair.
he would walk up on his hind legs
and placing his big lack p,w,
against me, beg for sugar or candy,
and he was not at all pleased when
he failed to get it lie sUOI made
himself perfectly at home, and went
| about Investigating the ship. The
sailors taught him many tricks, an
really made him more troublesome
| than be otherwise would have been.
His great game with them was a sort
of "tug -of-war" He SsOuld Clut
one end Of a rope with his paws anG
teeth. and Il sailor the other, b0tt
pulling with all their might, and il
Bruin happened to lie the successful
contestant. ne would show his delight
by putting his head between his leg,
and rolling about the decks like q
ball. He found no d tiiCulty in going
A., up and down common rung-laddCr
but pair of stairs was quite another
matter. Usually, after 90 ne dOwr
very carefully for a step or two, ht
would become discouraged and tumble
to the bottom with a grOwL Bruin':
scent was acute, aud very soon he dis
| covered that the sugar-bOwl and mo
lasses-3ot were kept in the pantry al
the foot of the steps He also learned
that the colored steward was very
much afraid Of him. Stand ng up
right on his hind legs he would grow
and rush into the pantry, and W th {
cuff of his pawdrivc out the steward
upset the sugar bow, and grabbing
what he could of the contents, hurry
on deck to escape the punishment
which he knew would follow-Do
cembeT st. Nicholas.