The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-09-29
BY BRUIN
A Boys Remarkable Adventure
With a Pet Bear.
WHIRLED ABOUT LIKE A TOY.

Over Seventy-six Stitches In the
Lads Scalp and Rolls Of Surgical
Plaster on His shins Saved His Life.
Ben was a pet black bear four years
old and as good natured and friendly
rs If 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 a crowd was seen
about the door. | hurried home TO
find most of the women of the neigh
borhood wringlng 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
killed n boy, and upon asking TO see the
victim | was told that the remains
had been taken TO u 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--it was one of the
Urlin boys-sitting up on the Kitchen
floor. holding sort of impromptu re-
ception and. with the exception OF
Ben. the least excited of any one con.
cerned.
could not help admlring 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
and gone In to wrcsile with the bear
Ben was willing. as he always was
and lively match was soon on
| whercupon. seeing that thes bear did
not harm the two already In the room
another of the boys Joined in the scuf
| bears back.
This was Il new one on Ben, but h,
took kindly to the idea and was sooI
galloping round the little room will
his rider Then another boy climbed
on, and Ben carried the two OF then
Mt the same mad pace. Then the thirt
boy got aboard, and round they al
went. much to the delight of them
selves and their cheering audience II
| the doorway.
But even Ben's muscles of steel hat
their limit OF endurance, ana after (
riders he suddenly stopped and rolle'
over on his back.
And now an amazing thing happen
| ed. OF the three boys suddenly tum
| bled helter skeltcr from their seats on,
| happened TO fall upon the upturne,
jaws of the bear. and Bcn. who fo
| years had jugglcd rope balls, cor,
sticks and miniature logs, Instant!
undertook to give an exhibition will
his new implement.
| Gathering the badly frightened bo,
| into position, the bear set him whirl
ing. His clothing from his shoe top,
TO his knees was soon ripped To shrcdi
and his legs torn and bleeding Hi
scalp was laceuted by the sharp claw
| until the blood came. His cries ros,
to shrleks and sank again TO means
But the bear, mmoved kept up th,
perfect rhythm of his strokes.
| Finally the terrified lookers-on in tn,
doorway. realizing that something ha'
to he done II their leader was not Il
he twired. to death before their eyes
| tore Il rail from the fence and with
| few pokes In Bens side induced hin
| W ui'p 'ht wy Nh' N"S theh ui"BS''
out apparently more dead than alive.
The doctor took seventy.siX stitche
In the lads scalp and put rolls of SUI
| gical plaster on his shlns. SO squar
and true had Ben juggled him that no
a scratch was found ON his face OF ol
any part of his body between the tol
Of his head and his knees. He even
tually came out of the hospital N
worse for his ordeal. but doubt IL h
ever again undertook TO ride n bear.
The Front End.