The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-08
AN AWFUL FIGHT.
Terrible Struggle Between a Lion
and n Polar Benr.

Jacksonville Correspondence New
York Journal.
A furious fight to a finish between
a fierce Nubian lion and a monster
Polar bear took place at Mundy's An
in.a1 Show, in Jacksonville, Fla. a
few days ago.
The bear was badly beaten, but ev
erybody admitted that he had made
a splendid fight Both beasts were alb
solutely game adj the way through
The lion carried on the fight under
considerable difficulties, as toward the
close the keepers were shooting him
and jabbing him with redhot irons.
The bear owed his defeat to his
weakness in offensive tactics. In
strength, weight and endurance he was
fully the equal of his opponent.
The fight naturally divided itself
into rounds, although, of course, no
time rule was observed. After a fierce
bout the monsters would rest for a
few moments and then go at it again.
The fight lasted ten rounds.
The Polar bear had angered the lion
in some way, possibly by his color OF
his cold and reserved manner. The
keepers were first aware Of the trouble
when the lion smashed the partition of
the bear.
The lion is a magnificent beast, 6
years old, which is the prime of life in
his family He has a very thick name
and a horrid roar. When he roars he
turns UP his nose and his upper lip
and displays two rows of glistening
fangs. He weighs 500 pounds. The
name Roosevelt was given him be-
cause he was so fierce and handsome.
linen of his family He tramps around
his cage all day in a restless manner,
but rarely utters a sound. He weighs
$50 pounds. He is called Peary, in
honor of the fa1nour, Arctic explorer.
Roosevelt started the fighting by
landing with the left paw on Bruins
right shoulder Owing ITO the enFor-
mously thick fur on the bear the blow
did little damage, although the fur
flew.
Peary showed a desire to get to close
quarters. Roosevelt preferred to use
his agile feet, delivering quick. vicious
blows and hopping aside with light
ming swiftness. The first round was
principally open fighting of this kind,
Peary losing much fur.
In the second round Roosevelt land
ed heavily on Peary's nose, knocking
off a considerable portion of it. Peary
seemed groggy, and Roosevelt seized
the opportunity to throw in dozen
savage blows. Peary, however, had
plenty of stamina. He backed up
against the bars and rose on his hind
legs. When Roosevelt leaped at his
throat he caught the lion a fearful
blow on the side of his head, knock
ing him to the floor with great thud.
Both then needed a rest.
In the third round Roosevelt went
at once for Peary's injured nose. The
latter, however, lodged cleverly,
While Roosevelt was rushing past
Peary the latter squeezed him against
the bars and began clawing and chew
ing at his relatively uncovered hind
quarters. Roosevelt was unable to hit
back effectively, but finally succeeded
in dragging himself away, uttering
fearful bowls and roars as he did so.
Roosevelt opened the fourth round
In a sensational manner by leaping
high into the air and landing on
Peary's back. This worried the rather
slow bear, and Roosevelt was left al
liberty to dig into his back for some
seconds. BY a terrific effort Peary
threw Roosevelt sideways off his back
so that the lion landed on the floor
with a great crash.
The proprietor Of the show and all
the keepers were now around the cage
doing what they could to separate the
fighters. The owner realized that
every time the lion landed on the bear
he knocked $50 worth of value off him.
not to speak of the possibility that both
would be killed.
At first the keepers tried long poles
and iron rods on the raging beasts, but
these were utterly disregarded. They
smashed the poles like matches and
knocked the iron rods back so that
the men holding them were injured.
In the itth round the lion appeared
a little groggy as the result OF his furi.
Gus and breathless fighting. He painted
heavily and trembled as he hit out al
Peary. The latter pressed his opponent
steadily. He tore large patches of skin
from his body and seemed very nearly
victor. Suddenly the lion reused him.
self and gave the bear fearful blow
on his already much damaged nose
Peary stepped back. That was the sig.
nal for a brief return to their corners
The lion began hostilities in the sixth
round by fixing his teeth in Peary's
left hind leg. The bear tried to shake
him off, but the lion held on like
death.
One of the keepers here interviewed
by jabbing a red hot iron against the
tnuLZlts n lthil bttlIn Vi Jul
ing flesh and hair filled the air. The
lion was at last compelled to let 81
OF the bear. He jumped back snarllnf
horribly at the human intruder. Tit
bear seized the opportunity to throw
himself on the lion and bury HIS teeth
in the latters back. The keeper ther
turned the iron on the bear and thu
fight was stopped for few moments
Roosevelt quickly recovered from thu
weakness ne had shown and begar
the seventh round with a great rush
He tore Peary's coat until he wa
nothing but a shapeless mass Of bloody
tattered fur. The unfortunate beal
tried TO hug the lion, thinking no doub
that would stop his jabs, but the lioE
did. not care for this method of fight
ing. Peary rose up on his hind Leg
and Roosevelt dealt him a right paw
smash that tore most OF the fur off his
chest.
The two fighters danced around ant
ROLES over one another so rapidly thai
the keepers were unable for the time
to make any attempt TO separate them
The ninth round began with both
fighters gropgY but sun in the ring
The lion had had his right paw bitter
through. His name WAS nearly all tori
atSau HE baqk and hind utfarinrj