Evening journal., 1894-02-24

People of South Wilmington Startled BY
the Story of a Bad Black Bear who En-
tered a slaughter-House Bnd Killed
Dog-An Advertising Scheme.
The bear story. which was published in
the Morning News of to-day under big
head, was pure and unadulterated fake.
It originated in tbe brains OF several men
who were after free advertising and the
credulous reporter readily took the bait
and swallowed it whole and is now the
laughing stock of the city. The story
published was as follows:
The scene Of the battle was the yard Of
Biermann & Brothers pork butchery in
South Wilmington.
About 430 o'clock Otto Batzd foremsn
for the Biermanns, was in the slaughter
house dressing some hogs for market.
While at his work he heard dog bark.
ing and making great commotion in the
yard. Hastily grasping large mallet,
such as is used in killing hogs, Barzd
started for the yard.
On the threshold of the slaughter
house he stopped, as the sight that met
his eyes nearly froze the blood in his
veins. Standing on his launches was a
good sized black bear, clawing wildly at
the large watchdog owned by the firm.
Before Batzd could reach the bear the
animal swuRg one of his paws and catch
ing the dog on its side ripped the flesh
wide open. The dog retreated. but i'm
mediately tackled the bear again.
Baizd thought it time to take a hand
He stepped into the yard, and as he did
so the bear left the dog and made a rush
fars aa h1 l. e.f .
the middle OF the yard. The butcher
which was rushing forward, but sud.
denly moved to one side. The bear did
not have time to change tits course, and
swung N it with full force and
bears back The blow slightly stunned
the animal, and it sank on its knees.
The bear was not an instant off its feet
The dog was attacking It from behind
and it again turned its attention to the
canine, causing it to retreat behind the
house with the bear following it. Batzd
followed the two animals, and swinging
his hammer again hit the bear on the
/ Jaw. The bear sank on it's knees sgain
and before it could regain its feet Batzd
II
in its skull and killing it.
The dog was so badly injured, where
the bears claws had cut into its body
that Batzd killed it to put it out Of iti
misery.
Batzd skinned the bear and hung tn,
carcass up in the slsughter-house. HI
brought tue skin to the house of frienC
where it is on exhibition. The bea
weighed between $50 and 200 pounds
and was an animal of great strength.
No sensible person could read tn
above story and believe it. The ide
that a bear could walk through
any part of city settled a
thickly as South Wilmington
is fpreposterous. Several people livinI
in the Vicinity were intervleBed by
reporter this morning and rome Of then
had heard of the bear. Otto Betz, 70
that is the name OF the alleged bea
slayer, when questioned, contraoicteI
himself several times. The statemen
that one dog was killed is no
true, as the firm only owned two
and both of these were chaine
in the yard this morning. Williar
Grinley, colored, who is employed abou
the slaughter house, was working all tn
afternoon and saw no sigus of bear.
The saloon-keeper. who was to deriv
the benefit Of the story by exhibiting th
hide, is now kicking because his nam
was not mentioned. He is showing th
skin to prove the story but the bear wa
not killed anywhere near Wilmington.