The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-27
BEAR
TAKES
THE CAR
Breaks out OfHiS Cage
at Sacramento
Sunday
Poison ChIOrOfOrm and Bull
lets Used on Him, and
Then He Died Of
Fright

At Sacramento Sunday big brown
bear caused a panic at the Southern
Pacific depot. He was being car
ried 70 Los Angeles, but managed to
break open his cage and took pos.
session OF the car in which we're sew.
eral trunks. He defied the express
and railroad companies aud the own.
ors OF tho Luggage, and only relln.
QuIshed his claim when he had been
shot dead.
Ifo was caught IN trap in the
mountains back of Sheridan, Placer
county. a few days ago, and was sold
20 Los Angeles museum man. Bru.
IN wan placed In big box. across the
top OF which half-inch iron rods were
stretched The boar took matters
philosophically during the journey by
wagon 10 Wheatlnnd, where II was
transferred 10 n baggage car. and
started on its journey 10 Los Angeles
by way OF this city
Bruin grew curious after the train
started, and began 10 investigate. II
reached up. took hold OF one OF the
halflnch rods and bent II double
without apparent effort II struck
one paw through and reached around |
for the assistant baggage juggler |
and. failing 70 ind him, ripped out an.
other bar
Matters we're getting serious, and.
as the bear WIS getting a good grip
on another rcd. the baggage men
rolled the cage over until the defect
I've bars were against the side OF the
car and thon piled all their trunks
and valiaes upon and around II 20
keep Il there. II 10 even said that
the baggage men took turns sitting
on the pile OF trunks.
The train arrived In this city at
$3.50 this morning. and something had
10 bo done The people who had tray
oled 70 the capital wanted their bag.
gage. and the Southern Pacific com.
pany wanted It's car. The bear Lad
possession OF both. Tho Weils.Fargol
company had undertaken 20 deliver
bruin 10 lta owner In Los Angeles.
but 10 remove the cage from the wall
of the car meant that the bear would
have full swipg OF tho car aud possl.
bly, OF the depot.
One bright mind suggested that
might quiet bruins nerves.
but the aheRgy old fellow declined 10
smell OF the handkerchief when Il
was pOked al him on the end of
bamboo fishing pole Then another
genius suggested poison. and an ap.
pie was saturated With strychnine
and passed In. Tho bear ate the ap.
Pile and II seemed 10 agree with him,
but he refused TO die, and the express
eompany's officials. who were IN a
hurry, scratched their heads. and the
railroad onlcials who we're pressed
'or time, awore that the car must be
pat Into service again
lnasmuch aH the bear refused 20 40
% sleep like good bear and showed
ne utmost contempt for strychnine.
ltrcngent methods we're reaorted 10.
rwo trusted employees of the express
company, rcputed 90 be dead shots.
we're told to execute the "pesly var
mint" Thcy werO armed with reg.
ilatlon revOlvora aud began pumping
cad az bruln, That made him mad,
md he thrcshed around. threatening
% destroy not only what was left OF
lis cage. but the entire car. ID
Ten bullets were fred into him In I
IHercnt places supposed 20 be vulner I
'ble, He was peppored from his |,
tub of tail 10 his perky cars. Two :
hore bullets were sent HIS way. when d
n ugly looking sawed.ofl shotgun {
vas brought 90 hear on him aud al 4
he hrnt volley he turned up his toes b
md died "
The consensus of opinion at the r
'acramenlo donot was that the hear a
'aa scared todonth The, carcass \
'hich was taken into the express OF n
Ice and skinned, weighed zoo pounds. x
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