The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-16

his bow end. All that remained was the
stern. 50 10 speak. which was still free
very much so. in fact The manner in
which he now struck out wildly and
blindly with those same hind legs. with
their sharp claws, for his head was tied
up so closely TO the roof Of the cage that
he could see nothing behind him, was
certainly anything but inviting TO any one
who should come within range Of them.
II was considered safe now TO open
the dOof Of the cage. the bears head and
forepaws being fastened to the logs at
the opposite end from the opening. So
the slide was raised, and then came the
problem OF how to put the other ropes
about the animated windmill inside,
which was making about a hundred revo-
lutions a minute. so to speak. Finally
Well-known banker, who was one Of the
''tenderfOot' party, volunteered to crawl
into the trap and see what he could do.
SO down on his hands and knees he went,
and with a rope in one hand cFawled half
way into the cage. Luckily, the bear was
triced up in such position that he could
not see what was going on. But he knew
that there was some deep, dark design
against his liberty, and he continued 10
strike out against his unseen enemy even
more viciously, If possible, than he had
against those whom he could see.
1t was some time before an opportunity
presented itself but after a while the bear
rested a moment from his fruitleSs war
fare, and this instant sufficed to allow
a dexterous cast of the rope TO be made
and one of his hind legs was secured. This
was drawn taut like the others. and when
the leg had been pulled out to its fullest
extent, 1t took but minute more TO
catch the other one, the banker, however,
narrowly escaping two, or three hasty side
swipes that he beast made at his unseen
tormentor. And now the brute was Sc
cure. He was literally spread-eagled. The
ropes attached to his hind legs were SELF
ed by half a dozen men and the body
drawn as far out through the door as
could be. Then each shpnoose was wired
or tied so that il could not become I'M
fastened, and then all hands stood by to
drag the animal from the trap. The rope
attached to the forearms and neck were
slowly Stacked up, while those fastened TO
the hind legs were kept as tight as half
a dozen men could hold them. Then. one
at a time, the first ropes were cautiously
loOsed and passed down through the roof
of the pen and out of the door, manned
in turn, and when all was ready there
was a quick and powerful movement,
and before the bear could realize what
was up he was dragged out Of the trap
and into the open air.
Then there was a circus. All that had
gone before was insignificant by compar
ison. By this time the bear was furious.
The gorge was narrow and rocky, and
the men holding the ropes disposed them
selves about and along its rugged banks
as best they could. There was scant foot
hold, and the struggles of the infuriated
bear gave every man all he could do 10
keep his position. The fierce beast jump
Fooled in his efforts, he rolled over and
over, bit at the ropes that held him,
gnashed his great jaws till the blood
ran from his mouth, and growled and
beloved as If all the bulls of Bashan
had been turned loose at once. A stream
ran down the bottom of the gorge, and
into this he finally plunged and buried
his muZZle in the clear, cold water. He
was allowed to refresh himself for few
minutes, and then the start up the gorge
was made. 1t was one wild scramble from
beginning to end. 1t seemed impossible
that the journey could ever be made, and
in fact, it was no joke to attempt the
ascent even without the accompaniment
OF a wild beast that had to be tugged
and pulled at every minute to keep him
from killing some one OF the party. The
five ropes fastened to the animal were
held by one or two stout men each, yet
the beast slung his captors around almost
at his own sweet will, and every minute
or two made wild dashes at those who
were not quick enough in keeping out Of
his way.
His bearship snapped at the oak trees
as he passed, biting off at one wrench
limbs as thick as mans wrist and even
pulling the tough growth up by the roots.
The banks of the gorge were in many
places only slightly removed from the per-
pendicular, and occasionally he varied the
performance by rolling head over heels
down it, to the imminent danger of the
men holding the ropes in the rear. Then
again these latter would lose control and
the brute made wild. dashes up hill after
the men in the lead. and then there was
another scramble. There were narrow es-
capes without number, but luckily the
beast was always checked just as he SEEM
ed on the point of literally tearing some
one into fragments.
Several hours were consumed in drag
ging, guiding, and driving the bear to the
top of the hill, and in being dragged,
guided, and driven by him in turn, and
when he got there he was so nearly fag-
ged out that there was little difficulty in
wrapping him about with ropes, loading
him into a wagon, and hauling him
through the forest to camp. There he was
securely chained to a tree, the ropes re-
moved from neck and limbs, and he was
allowed to recover from his exertions. His
captors were likewise in almost the same
state of collapse. But all the efforts of
the party of bear catchers went for
naught. The animal was chained to a
tree, where he roasted for two or three
nights, bitterly bemoaning his fate, while
his free companions on the mountain-side
answered him from time to time and APP
parently encouraged him in his desperate
efforts to escape. Then he gave the Job
up in disgust and committed suicide He
climbed up the tree on one side of a limb
and started down on the other side. The
chain was not long enough and the result
was that the bear strangled to death.
At ESQ in the Shade. IL