Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-16
BEAR AT ARG IN THE PARK.
Chnses Several Men TIP the Trees and
ts FINALS Killed.

~ fInullN nttttus
For a large portion OF an hour yesterday
there was more excitement in Paramount
park than has been occasioned by any event
that has occurred there since it became the
peoples playground. During that time the
big cinnamon bear was running the park to
suit himself, and it suited him to run every
person out of 1t except those who climbed
trees early in the trouble. The big brute
got away from his keeper and made an in
discriminate attack upon everybody, Sc
verely wounding William Kissell and
scratching Keeper Lamb. The animal was
killed before the trouble ended.
The incident occurred when the keeper
attempted to transfer ursa major from his
winter quarters to his summer home near
the end of the street car track. Keeper
Lamb got Kissell to help him make the
transfer. Bruin was deeply Interested in
the proceedings, and before the arrange
ments were perfected he broke out of his
cage. The taste of freedom pleased him
immensely, and when the keeper and his
assistants attempted to drive him back he
lost his temper and went after them with a
degree of vigor that left no doubt as to
what his intentions we're. County Recorder
Shepard. who lives near the park, happened
to be passing through and got within the
immediate vision of the bear before he real
lied It. The bear made a vicious onslaught
upon him. Shepard started dow hill with
the bear after him and gaining at every
lump. In a foot race the man was not in
II with the bear, and he realized that safety
depended upon getting up a tree. This was
difficult to do under ordinary circumstances,
but with a compound bear at his heels 1t
was the easiest thing Shepard ever did in
his life. He sprang from the ground and
caught a bough that jutted out from a
sturdy trunk many feet above his head,
and skinned a cat over 1t Just
as the bear reached him. Bruin Scared the
tree for q distance Of hve or six feet and
snarled at the man a few times and then
went after another victim. Keeper Lamb was
selected. The bear went after him with a
determination not to fail to get him. Half
e. dozen other men and boys from safe posi-
tions in nearby trees yelled their warnings
to the venerable park policeman. Lamb is
about 20 years old. He was standing be-
side a smooth-barked black oak tree with
limbs ten feet from the ground. He looked
up the tree and then at the bear, and the
next instant was making his way up the
trunk. The bear came along in time to get
hold of one foot and was doing his best to
drag the old man down when the shoe slipped
of. Kissell came to the rescue at this point
and neatly and skillfully lassoed the bear.
Then grief and trouble arose for Kissell.
The bear lost no time in getting to Kis-
sells end of the rope, and before Kissell
could get out Of the way the enraged ami
NAL literally stripped him of his clothing,
i~nficting severe injuries with claws and
teeth upon the mans thigh and legs. Kissell
attempted to climb a tree and in doing so ac-
cidentally got his. end of the rope over a
limb several feet above the ground. When
tho bear pulled him back to the ground it
threw all of Kissell's weight on the end of
the rope. The moose frightened around the
brut6's throat. and he let go of the man,
but he still held on to the rope, and, getting
a half hitch around another tree, pulled until
ho had the bear half suspended and then he
tied the rope.
In the meantime a telephone message had
been sent to the police station and Officer
Peterson had reported with his gun. The
men came down from their trees, after they
found the bear was securely tied, and made
an investigation from a distance. The ami
NAL had ceased to struggle, but 1t was thought
best to tie him securely with other ropes
before the moose was released. When this
was done, however, the bear was dead.
Kissell was taken to his home and his
wounds dressed by a surgeon. They are
painful, but not dangerous. The loss of the
bear is the source of a great deal of sorrow
to Keeper Lamb, who had learned to think
a great deal of him.