Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-02-24

Ut
and I never learned tina. anybody
thought TO act as timekccpe". Some
idea may be formed as 10 the duration
of the fight by the fact that while |
was hammering al the bears eye tho
police began to arrive from other por.
lions of the park.
A Fortunate Diversion.
while fighting in this manner one OF
my helpers found a rake such as we
use for cleaning the cages of animals,
the implement being IA common pitch
fork with the tines bent At right an
giles. This was thrown down from
the upper side into the pit in the hope
that ! could get hold of 1t and that
1t would do me some service.
AS n matter of fact this rake would
have beer useless, even if | could have
got hold of it. 1t was too long for
me to use in close quarters. Strange
ly no one realized that "A short. stout
club. like "A policeman's billy, was
what would serve me best. for with
such IA weapon ! might have pu, NY
enemy out in short order.
Bear Gives "Opening."
As the rake fell INTO the pit, striking
on one end, it bounded and rcbounded
back and forth. making Il good deal Of
chatter, the tines ringing OF the ce-
mcnt floor. His bearship, hcsitatcd,
listened, let 20 my arm and Looked to
see what the rake might be. Evident
~ he was IN his guard against any
rcscuer who might appear to give ma
assistance As he dropped my arm he
lifted his snpui, bringing /, in exactly
the hes, position for me to deliver Il
Knockout blow with my right. This
was what prize fighters would call AN
%'opening,' but Russian bears know
nothing about the tactical methods %
BOXERS, and my asSailant WAS not con
sciOns Of his only weak spot. Bu, !
knew and took ~advanta"" Of it. M
sooner had he turned his nose than.
~rummuninR all my failing energies, |
struck him "A heavy blow squarcly ON
the end of the nose. For II bear this
Is the knorh-out blow In AN instant
the DAVIS that had enclrclcd me re-
Ihhed and the almost victorious ami
nal began to brush the stars from be
tore his eyes in IA ridiculous manner,
just as yon have seen comical pictures
Of bears III the act of keeping iilcs IN
themselves. II is quite amusing now
but It wasn't funny then
Escape from the Cage.
While III" animal was engaged in
recovering his disturbed faculties
staggered to the gate. When ! got
there I QuiclIy opened 1t and backed
out. Tn tn" outside Of the gate were
several policemen. and II Of them
handed me a revolver. ! tool III"
weapon and started W rc"ntcr the
cage. but ! was feeling pretty groggy,
and, before could reach the gate. |
fen over in Il faint, brought On by tn"
loss Of blood, the pain and the extrapr-
binary eXcrtion ! had undergone. Tn"
rest ~ the adventure "as merely q
matter Of hospital. doctors and nurses.
| lay my escape entirely 90 the com
mptlpu made by the rake when II was
thrown in'p HE pit. II came AZ III:
right moment ana IN the proper plac"
10 diarra.t bruins attention 50 ~ "a
make hIm throw his head IN the riGh.
prHI'IDN lDT NV ~ tlEt 'IiI 'nt h'!D'h
Oul blow.
Ths knnck-O OUT Blow.
And now 4 WORT as to this hnDck-
Out blow, because some VIVA read This
may IND themselves IN close quarters
with u savage animal some day. A
hard blow across the hostsils just be-
lew the point whore the bone or hard
a.. :, "A A.. a..R .sN 80. a.. -.As
~ cnriilapihHus part begins will a.
ways blind and often wholly over
come AN animal. I am not prepared 10
say that The effect ~ such n blGy "
'he same aa Thai which = blow on the
point Of Mc chin produces In u human
being. and which ~ ! understand AZ
tcctS certain nerve 'cnters. Many
times have been compelled 10 strike
animals across the noBtrils IN the man
ner have described, and the effect
produced has always been the same
Apparently they "acr things" and be
gin TO brush them away with their
paws. Possibly the sudden darkehinr
Of their vision causes them to try -
remove what they feel 10 DC an oh
struction. iut 7 leave that for scicn-
the students ~ the subject. ~ Is
enough for me TO congratulate myself
ON that ! was permitted TO give tho
Russian bear "a Knockout blow at the
right time and place,
How did ! get over II? Oh! chat
was easy, but it took time. No, .
haven't been in with the Russian bear
HlnCe. am not lOONng for lruuhle