The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-11-05
JUCCLED BY BRUIN
A Boys Remarkable Adventure
With a Pet Bear.
WHIRLED ABOUT LIKE A TOY.

l
Lads Scalp and Rolls of Surgical
Plaster on His Shina Saved His Life.
Ben was pet black bear four years
old and as good natured and friendly
as If his ancestors had never had bad
regulations. There Is only one occa-
sion ON record. says his owner. Mr..
William H Wright. In his biography
of Ben in BLACK Bear" when even to
appearances did Ben misbehave him
| self.
The circumstances being examined
however the animal came off with bis
good name virtually untouched. Ben
had been left in his shed as usual
Later in the day a crowd was seen
about the door buried home to
find most of the women of the neigh
borhood wringiug their hands and call
ing down all kinds of trosble on my
head.
At first | could make neither head
nor tail of the clamor. but finally gath
cred that that bloodthirsty, savage
and unspeakable bear of mine had
killed boy. and upon asking to see the
victim l was told that the remains
had been taken to a neighbours house
and doctor summoned.
This was pretty serious news; but,
knowing that whatever had happened
Ben had not taken the offensive with
out ample cause. ! unclaimed him and
put him in the cellar of my house, well
out of harms way. before looking fur
Their into the matter. Then went
over to the temporary morgue and
found the corpse-it was one of the
Urlin boys-siting up 90 the kitchen
floor, holding IA sort of impromptu re-
ception and. with the exception of
Ben. the least excited of any one con-
cerned.
could not help admiring the young
ster's pluck. for he was an awful sight.
From his feet to his knees his legs
were lacerated. and his clothing was
torn to shreds. and the top of his head
-redder by far than ever nature had
intended was covered with blood. As
soon as | laid eyes on him | guessed
what had happened.
1t developed that the two Urlin boys
had broken open the door of the shed
and gone In to wrestle with the bear.
Ben was willing. as he always was,
and a lively match was soon on,
whereupon. seeing that the bear did
another of the boys Joined in the scuf'
fle. Then one of them got on the
bears back.
This was a new one on Ben, but he
took kindly to the idea and was soon
galloping round the little room with
his rider. Then another boy climbed
on, and Ben carried the two of them
at the same mad pace. Then the third
boy got aboard, and round they al
went. much to the delight of them
selves and their cheering audience in
the doorway.
But even Ben's muscles of steel had
their limit of endurance, and after q
few circles of the room with the three
riders he suddenly stopped and rolled
over on his back.
And now an amazing thing happen
ed. OF the three boys suddenly tum
bled heller skelter from their seats on,
happened to fall upon the upturnet
Jaws of the bear. and Ben, who fol
years had juggled rope balls. cort
sticks and miniature logs. Instant!
undertook to give an exhibition will
his new implement
Gathering the badly frightened boy
into position, the bear set him whirl
ing. His clothing from his shoe top'
to his knees was soon ripped to shred'
, and his legs torn and bleeding. Hi
scalp was lacerated by the sharp claw
until the blood came. His cries rost
to shrieks and sank again to means
But the bear, unmoved. kept up thu
perfect rhythm of his strokes
Finally the terrified lookers-on in TIL
doorway. realizing that something hat
to be done If their leader was not Il
be twirled to death before their eyes
: tore a rail from the fence and with
few pokes In Ben's side induced hin
to drop the boy. who was then dragged
J. out apparently more dead than alive.
/ The doctor took seventy-six stitche
l. IN the lads scalp and put rolls of SUI
t gical plaster on his shins. So squar
and true had Ben juggled him that nc
a scratch was found on his face OF O.
: any part Of his body between the to
II of his head and his knees. He ever
r tually came out of the hospital q
a worse for his ordeal, but doubt IL b
ever again undertook to ride bear.