Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-10-22
FROsTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1910.
JUCCLED BY BRU|N
A Boys Remarkable Adventure
With a Pet Bear.
WHIRLED ABOUT LIKE A TOY.

Lads Scalp and Rolls OF Surgica
Plaster on His Shins Saved His Life.
Ben was a pet black bear four years
old and as good natured and friendly
as IL his ancestors had never had bad
regulations There Is only one occa
sion on record. says his owner. Mr..
William II. 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 his
good name virtually untouched Ben
had been left in his shed as usual.
Later in the day crowd was seen
about the door. | hurried home to
find most of the women of the neigh
borhood wringing their hands and call
ing down all kinds of trouble 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
victim was told that the remains
had been taken to Il neighbor's 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
ther into the matter. Then | went
over to the temporary morgue and
found the corpse 1t was one of the
Urlin boys-sitting up on the kitchen
floor, holding a 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 covered with blood. AS
soon as | laid eyes on him guessed
what had happened.
1t developed that the two UrIin 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
not harm the two already In the room,
another of the boys joined in the Scut-
te 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
ut the same mad pace. Then the third
boy got aboard, and round they all
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 a
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-
bed helter skelter from their seats one
happened to fall upon the upturned
Jaws of the bear, and Ben, who for
years had jugglcd rope balls. cord
sticks and miniature logs. instantly
undertook to give an exhibition with
his new implement
Gathering the badly frightened boy
into position. the bear set him whirl-
ing. His clothing from his shoe tops
to his knees was soon ripped to shreds
and his legs torn and bleeding. His
scalp was laceratcd by the sharp claws
until the blood came, His cries rose
to shrieks and sank again to means
But the bear unmoved. kept up the
perfect rhythm Of his strokes
Finally the terrified loOkerS-on in the
doorway. realizing that something had
to be done if their leader was not to
be twirled to death before their eyes,
tore a rail from the fence and with Il
few pokes In Ben's side induced him
to drop the boy, who was then dragged
out apparently more dead than alive.
The doctor took seventy-siX stitches
in the lads scalp and put rolls of sur
gical plaster on his shins. SO square
and true had Ben juggled him that not
scratch was found on his face or on
any part OF his body between the top
OF his head and his knees. He even
tually came out of the hospital no
worse for his ordeal but | doubt II he
ever again undertook TO ride bear.