Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
BROKE BRUINS NECK.
Black Rum Disposed of Sheep
Stealer in short Order

From the New York Sun
Among the farm possessions of one Peter
Merely, who lives along the waters of Lit
tie Kettle creek. in Pennsylvania is a large
black ram. AS the story comes in from
there, like Jim Smeys famous jumping
frog. no one noticed until recently any
more points about this ram than there
were about any other ram. Now this ram
Is the sensation in the Little Kettle creek
country, for he has proved himself a bene-
factor TO the neighborhood by killing alone
and unaided, and in one. two, three order
a big bear that for weeks had been deyotinr
hiinselt TO thinning OUT the sheep pastures.
mis- bear had been hunted In vain FAR and
near A Few days ago Farmer Morely
heard that the cunning mutton steaIer had
been seen in the vicinity. and he posted his
elghteen-y ear-od boy Peter as a guard
over the field where his sheep were feed
ing. The boy was armed with a double
barreied shotgun loaded with buckshot II
the bear appeared young Peters instruc-
IONS were to give him both barrels. Young
Merely watched with patience and fear for
two days, but no bear appeared on the
third day he felt himself more at ease and
began TO think that Bruin did not care to
oolher with that flock of sheep his recon-
noitering having probably discovered to him
the boy and the gun guard. About the
niodle OF the afternoon of the third day
however, the guardian of the flock was
sta tied to see the bear jump over the stone
wal, only few feet from where he was
sitting. The bear put so ferocjous a front
toward the lad that he dropped his gun,
Spfang over the wall. and ran at the top
of his speed toward a field, not far distant.
where his father was at work Farmer
Moreiy started for the sheep pasture as
fast as he could run. When the hear an
peared in the field the sheep were feeding in
a group in the middle of the lot BY the
time Farmer Merely reached the fence
Where the frightened boy had left the gun
only one OF the flock remained where the
group had been. That one was the black
ram: The others had fled into a far corner
OF the field, where they were huddled to-
Setner, pleatlng IN terror as they gaZed
back at the shutting form of the bear
Bears are epicurean in their tastes and If
they visit a pfgstye it is always the young
est and latest inmate they select. If it is
mutton they are after, they work on the
same principle. So this particular bear paid
no attention to the black ram, but was
passing by not more than ten feet AWAY
With the inteution of making his selection
from the trembling and bleating flock he
yond 1t was at this interesting moment in
the proceedings that Farmer Merely an
peared at the wall. The bear had got in
range Of the ram he shuffied contemptu-
ously along, and then the ram seems to
nave made up his mind that this ugly-look-
ing stranger had no business there He
leaped into the air, and like shot threw
his thick, hard head against the bear strik-
ing the big brute in the side near the sho,II
der. The bear went down like lump of
lead, ana n a few seconds lay there The
ram backed away, his eyes glaring and
every sense alert. The bear rose q his feet
and gazed in urimstakable surprise at the
ram.
If anybody ever wondered what had
struck him. says Farmer Merely, that
bear did
But the bear didn't have time to figure
the matter out, for the ram took the air
once more and landed against Bruin again
this time between the eyes. Again the bear
bit the dust. All this occurred so quickly
that Farmer Merely had not vet come
within sure gunshot of the bear and before
he could reach good range the bear rose
again, but only got half way up for the
ram followed up his advantage and pounded
his head the third time against the tres
paSser. The bear lay still a moment and
then sprang quickly to his feet turned. and
began lettering retreat. But Bruin did
not get i've feet away. The ram caught
the bear laundering blow on the neck
and down went the discounted sheep steal.
er again. he ram stood in position to re-
peat the dose, but it was unnecessary. The
bear did not rise again. When Farmer
Merely got there he found the bear. to all
appearance, dead, but to make sure he shot
the animal in the head. He might have
saved MS ammunition. The black rams
last butt had broken the bears neck. no
doubt killing the big brute instantly
FROM all accounts it is not likely that Pc
ter Morelys black ram will ever again bs
degraded by treadmill work on the churn-
ing machine, but will be kept to become the
sire OF a race the proudest part of whose
pedigree will be that they are descendants
of the only sheep that ever killed bear