The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-14
ETHERIZED A BLACK BEAR.
now 4 PENNSYLVANIA DOCTOR
GOT OUT or 4 TIGHT PLACE.
He Was Up Tree and Druin Was waiting
for Him TO Come Down when the
Anasthetlc Was Applied Tale OF Bald
Eagie valley. Where Things Happen.

WIILIANsPoRr. Pa. Dec l0-Dr. Walter
Kurtz. a young physician living in the
little town Of Howard, met and defeated
a bear the other day with a weapon that
has probably never before been employed
against big game.
Dr. Kur,z practi cs in the Bald Eagle
Valley, which Is surrounded by mountains
over which driving in winter is difficult
few days ago he found II necessary to
perform an operation on a man who lives
well up the mountain on a road so rough
rs 10 Ire scarcely pas sable for horse and
carriage
The young physician decided to spare
his horse the climb, and started out on foot
carrying case IN which, besiCes his
surgical implements, he placed nearly a
quart OF ether. Being good revolver
shot he also carried a six-shooter.
He had toiled half the distance to the
home Of his patient. when he heard a rust
ling Of the bushes ahead of him, and a
half-grown black bear shambled into the
path. The bear was about to disappear
in the brush, when the doctor sent one of
the bullets from the revolver into his hide
With u growl Of rage the bear turned
and made for the man at full speed. The
doctor was very much surprised at the sud
den turn in affairs. and when he ed the
remaining five shots in the revolver. which
he did rapidly, his aim was bad, and none
Of them did enough execution To stop the
bear
The only alternative now was tree,
and he made for a small hickory. He
managed TO crawl to the first limb, which
was just out Of the bears reach, before
his pursuer got TO the spot where i've had
stood, but dropped his revolver in the effort.
The bear circled the tree time after time,
growing continuously, and now and then
reaching up the trunk a. far AZ he could.
When an hour had passed this became very
fnonotonous TO the doctor.
A. he was searching his case to see If he
had any weapon that he could use against
the bear, an idea that would at least help
to pass the tire came into his mind, and he
acted on 1t. lie took a small bottle from
the case, and bound il to "A small branch in
such way that he could manipulate IL
handily. He poured il full Of ether, and
let 1t down to where the bear was leaning
against the trunk. One push from the paw
spilled the ether, but he filled it again, and
again let it down. This time the same thing
happened, but the results were far more
sati,flctory. The ether spilled over the
bears face, and caused him To sneeze and
puff. A third bottle was tried, with the
zane effect, bat when the fourth was ready,
the bear had enough, ana took position a
little distance away,
BY moving as though to get down, the
doctor brought bruin back TO close quar-
ters He made little poke with piece
Of paper and a. the bear stretched up his
nose he broke il The paper struck the
fur. and the bear got the full dose.
Many times this was repeated, all kinds Of
ruses being necessary to get the bear to
step up and take the dose.
Finally the bear got sleepy and lay down
beside the tree. This was What the doctor
wanted and he vas soon giving the ether
in regular quantities IL vas some time
before he dared get down from the tree
When he did descend, however, after
being imprisoned for more than two hours,
he dragged his revolver to him with the aid
Of the stick and hastily reloaded. When
he fired the next shot il was with a steady
aim at close range, and the operation was
successful