The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-12
LIEUT.. PEARY AS A HUNTER.
The Capture of TWO Litt e Bears in the
Arctic.


| Lieut.. Peafy n9rrates in the Febru-
| airy St Nicholas the capture of tive
| little polar bears, and the difficulty he
had in housing them on his little ship
the Hope.
While boring through the heavy ice,
in an effort to enter the Hudson strait,
d polar bear and her two cubs were
seen, and the Hope was Immediately
headed in their direction. 1t was a
beautiful trio of unusually. white ami
mails. A few moments after the rifles
began to crack the old bear was float
| ing lifeless in the water between two
pans of Toe, and the cubs swimming
Justify away from the ship, among the
pools and lanes of water which inter-
sected the foes in every direction.
Quickly the dory was lowered and
with five men started in pursuit,
while others Of the party and crew
scattered over the ice to head the
cubs Off if they left the water. Soon
one of them was lassooed and turned
over to the care of Bonesteel, who had
followed the dory over the ice, and the
chase continued after the other. Mr..
Bonesteel Immediately found all of his
college athletics called in active play
as, with the line about the cubs neck
in one hand and a boat hook in the
other, he endeavored to maintain his
balance. He was almost dragged into
the water by the sturdy little fellows
efforts to swim away. The next mo-
ment he was doing his best to keep the
vicious yougster from climbing up on
the ice pan with him. where he would
nave an opportunity to make effective
use of teeth and claws.
After an hours chase, during which
the dory was reinforced by a whale
boat and then by the Hope herself, the
second cub was finally headed off, COR
nered and lassooed Then the body of
the old bear and the growing and snap
ping youngsters We're hoisted on board,
the former deposited amidshps to re-
ceive the attention of Mr.. Higgins, the
naturalists, and the latter tied to a
ring bolt aft, until a couple OF hogs
heads could be prepared for their quar-
tiers.
The little brutes We're possessed OF
truly marvellous strength. While trans
ferring them to their hogsheads. one
succeeded in freeing himself from the
ropes trotted aft and was on the point
Of jumping overheard when L saw him
just in time to jerk him back on to the
deck, where Prof. Burton fell upon
him bodily in a Grace Roman en-
brace; and reinforcements rapidly ar
irving, the youngster was again secure
ly bound and transferred to his hogs
head II was quickly evident that
these would hold the cubs but a short
time. so a strong cage was constructed
by the ships carpenter from heavy
planks. To this they We're transferred
and their house was dashed to the
rail on the port side of the quarter
deck
They We're fed on meat and water,
and soon went TO sleep like innocent
kittens, with their heads resting upon
their paws. During their first nap on
board ship they were named "Polaris"
and "Cassiopeia,' after the two blaz-
ing consultations which, crcling
about the pole star, light the gloom Of
tie great night of the Arctic re-
gions. In this cage they lived and
throve during the rest of the voyage.
occasionally taking mouthful out of
the boot Of an incautious sailor, or
swapping up a careless mitten. and on
one occasion securing bit Of finger
with the mitten.