The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
Sayed nv "a Pet Bear.

HAZLETON. PA, Nov. T.-Jacob Der
ger is mountaineer VINO is known 10
almost every man, woman, ana chllu III
Sullivan and Columbia counties. FOR
fifteen wears he las Vacillated between
Bloomsbury the county seat of Columbia
and LapOrte in Sullivan county, ana Dy
his peculiar dress md mountain hablss
has become a fdmi -dr hgure in the dlt~
ferent towns and villages. He was known
to have family living somewhere near
Hells Kitchen, but very little was heard
of Mrs Berger or the young Bergers un-
I'll discovery made a rev DAYS ago Dy
an engineering party.
The usrveying corps was in charge OF
Charles Baker Of this place, ana was
loo itng a line for a railroad across the
mountain. This brought the party near
Helrs Kitchen. Here one Of the engl-
reers strayed away from his comrades.
While picking his way through the brush
he made discovery which made MS
hair stand on end. short distance from
him, on the bank Of a small stream, ne
saw large black bear. smeared with
blood and chewing at something, Whlle
beside the brute he could distinguish the
body of man to all appearance lifeless.
The engineer was unarmed, and for
moment he was at loss how TO act lie
could not cope with the bear single-hand-
ed. and so he ran back TO where his
companions were at work. When he
reached tl,m he was almost breathless
from excitement, but managed to inform
the party of what he had found. All the
able Wete secured. and the surveyors
started off in hot haste 10 Kill the bear.
After a run up the mountain side the
hank of the stream was again reached
and the party approached cautiously. To
their surprise the man was sitting partly
erect and endeaVorinS to support himself
with one hand, while the bear, cfose be
side him, was still busy tearing what
seemed to be human flesh.
The surveyors stood spelbOund. They
could not grasp the situation. The bear,
to all appearance was as savage as any
In the mountains and was covered with
blood. one of the party finally broke the
ice by shouting at the top of his voice
and attracted the attention of both the
surveyors to come TO him. The party
crossed the stream and found that the
man was Jacob Berger, and that he was
severely wounded about the head and
body. one arm was broken and his back
was badly sprained. He could not rise
The bear I'm the mean time watched the
strangers closely, but offered no OBJ
lection to their advances after being
cautioned by Berger. After the survey
ors had taken Berger to his home, 10
which they were followed by the bear, he
told his tory:
Berger first explained that Davy. the
bear, was perfectly domestcated and
was his wifes particular pet She had
peculiar fondness for mountain animals
and in a stockade near the cabin she
has a sort Of domestic menagerie. DaVy
has long been her favorite, and also that
of her daughters. This is accounted for
by the fact that the bear has acted as
sentinel at the house and stood guard in
the absence of the wOodsman. lie had
never been very familiar with Berger
himself and how he happened 10 accom-
pany him that morning could not be ex-
piained. Berger left home that morning
10 enspOct some timber land. He had
gone some distance into the woods when
he noticed that the bear was following
him. The bear kept a respectful distance
in the rear and eVi-'ed no desire TO cul-
tivate terms of intimacy. In this way
the pal" pushed through the woods until
the bank Of the creek was reached Rer-
ger stopped here for moment. partly to
ma safe place 10 ford the stream
and partly to view the timber. He was
50 engrossed that he did not hea~ or no
ice a large catamOunt creeping along
the limb 0f a tree above his head He
the catamount leaped upon him The
animal struck Berger square between
the shoulders and knocked him violently
10 the ground. The teeth and claws OF
the catamount tore his flesh: his arum
was broken by the fall. and he was una
made up his mind that he was done for
he heard loud grunt. the brush was
swept aside. ard old DaVy came upon
the scene The bear leaped savagely
upon the catamount, and terrible bat
tie between the two beasts followed.
The cat was large one, and fought vi
ciOusly, and tore bruin badly i'm his ef-
forts TO release himself. 1t was with
out avail however. Davy had suffered
several severe scratches. and he was
greatly aroused. He tore the cat into
pieces and chewed the carcass into frag-
ments. He was still engaged tearing at
the remains Of the catamount when the
surveyors came along.