Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-24
JUCCLED 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
as II his ancestors had never had bad
regulations. There is only one occa-
sion on record, says his owner. MIR.
William III. Wright, in his biography
or 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 rs usual.
Later in the day n crowd was seen
about the door. 1 hurried home 10
find most of the women of the neigh
borhood wringing their hands and call
ing down all kinds Of trouble on nv
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
had been taken to n 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-sitting up on the kitchen
floor. holding n 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 l guessed
what had happened
1t developed that the two Urlin boys
had broken open the door of the shed
and gone I'm to wrestle with the bear.
Ben was willing, as he always was,
and 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 scuf-
fie. Then one of them got on the
bears back.
This was q 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 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-
bled heller SHELTER from their seats one
happened TO fall upon the upturned
jaws Of the bear, and Ben. who for
years had juggled 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 lacerated 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 I'm the
doorway. realizing that something had
70 be done if their leader was not TO
be twirled TO death before their eyes.
tore rail from the fence and with
few pokes in Ben's side induced him
20 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
a 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 il nc
ever rafp ttudorfcck e., rtdo a to~u