The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-28

From the Westminster Gazette
An old shipmate tells me the following
stOryi "On board a slOcp on the Mediter-
rsnean station. a young female bear one
day made her appearance, together win
a kind note from . friend OF mine who
had captured il during a recent bears
hunt Among the spOrtsmen who attend
ed this hunt was the late Admiral Hobart
Pasha. Young Miss Bruin usually behav-
ed In a most exemplary manner, but one
day when we were on the coast Of Asia
Minor. and part Of the crew had gone
ashore on duty, their allowance OF daily
grog had been placed ln small breaker
tcaskJ on the quarter deck TO a vast their
return. When no one was looking, our
young bear shifted the grog, and pulling
out the bung, Tilted a portion OF the break
erss alcoholic contents down her throat.
The effect was astonishing. She few up
ana down and across the deck, quite mad
with drink Those on deck had to jump
into the rigging out OF the way OF her
savage charges. She ended the bout by
lying down on her back, biting, kicking,
and scratching; and il was some time be
fore a lassO was thrown over her head,
and she was tied up until sober.
When ii. NJ. S. p - was at Thrapia,
Miss Bear went overheard for her morn
ing dip. The ship was moored quite close
to the shore, wherein stood lamp post.
This being a novelty in our pets expert
ence she landed, and a moment after
wards was up TO the top Of II inspecting
its contents. A Turkish boy, never be-
fore having seen a bear on top Of lamp
unbearable to her ladyship; she was down
that lamp post and after that boy IN
fifty. The boy rushed away believing
the bear gayly cantering after him. Pres
emily there arose a fearful hubbub IN the
village, and a Turkish policeman came on
board the ship TO say the bear was at
lacking and devastating the whole city. ,
A couple Of bluejackets were landed, and
very soon brought our pet back TO her
proper ship.
1aIa a hear
on board, our captain made signal to
his senior officer, rs bear-ship visiting al
lowed?' The request having been grant
ed, Mile. Bruin stepped up the ladder on
TO the ironclad's quarterback The
strange bear, unluckily for him, made a
discourteOus gesture with his paw. Wnat
that gesture really meant in bear IAN
guaGe we knew not but the effect was
electric Amid shouts Of laughter from
the crews of both ships, our young lady
chased him round and round MS own own
round the poop and forecastle, until ne
was forced to take shelter from her wrath
below in the gunners' storeroom.
When we were lying at Port Said, large
p and o. steamer was moored head and
stern close behind US. 1t was an intensely
hot afternoon, and our bear was as usual
swimming round the ship. When she
passed astern. she looked round at the z.
and o. ship, and, seeing no signs or Ire
on board, thought as we supposed, that
it was good opportunity TO see whai
Of passing round our ship. she swan
alongside the other. and clambering up
the accommodation ladder. had look
round. The only object visible was the p
and o. doctor, lying full length on Chi
nese wicker chair. The bear crept UP
quietly to the sleeping doctor, placed her
nose and then her back under the chair
gave one hoist and capsized the DOCTOR
chair and all Suddenly waking up and
rubbing his eyes, and giving good swear
the doctor saw the beast, and picking
a Niger along the
deck, the bear after him. However, he
managed to reach his cabin door. and
slammed and locked 1t. Meanwhile our
chief boatswain's mate had got into our
dinghy, hurried on board. collared the
bear and brought her back smiling.
We kept our bear until she was fully
grown up and too big for a small ship, sc
we gave her 10 the captain of another
ironclad who, on paying off, gave heI
to the zoo. But she did not stand confine-
ment and the inspection of the public long
She moped from the first, and died In six
weeks time, as 1t was thought, of broken
heart.