The Greeley tribune., 1912-10-24
CAMP BEAR ON SPREE
FouR.LEooEp DOMESTIC TRANS
FORMED INTO MIscREANT.
Taught to Drink BY Men Of the Camp.
No Took to Going Out Ior
~0ood Timo"-Run Over
by Train.

Bangor. Maine.-Reddy. the lumber
camp bear OF Reddlngton. Is dead.
gone to a drunkard's grave.
Four years ago Reddy was found.
whining and shivering. q friendless or
phnn bear, In the woods near Brad
shaw's camp. and brought In by some
Of the choppers. His mother had been
killed and his brothers had been taken
away by the hunters. who had over
looked him. 1t was pretty near the
end Of the season at Bradshaw's. The
cook. Peter st. Pierre. adopted him
and later took him to his home. few
miles away. Peter had wife. but no
children. and Reddy got all the atten-
ton and petting that Peter would
have bestowed upon a son. Next sea
son. when Peter took him back to
camp, he was the best educated bear
in all Maine.
What Reddy couldn't do in the line
Of clever tricks wasn't worth men
tioning. and Peter declared that he
was q great help to him. Reddy would
scour pots and pans. 60 out and fetch
chips for kindling. make up the mems
hunks. tidy up the camp. help clear on
the table. and early on frosty morn
ings would 90 out and uncover the
bean hole quicker than a man could
do 1t and fetch in the steaming pot.
He saved Peter good many steps
and much labor.
At first Reddy used to sit up at the
table vith the men and eat. and visit
ors said his table manners were per
feet, except that he always Tapped his
tin plate clean after eating fap1acks
and molasses. He drank coffee from
a tin dipper like tho rest and used to
bang his dipper on the table when he
wanted more. But when the crew was
Increased in numbers Peter needed
Reddy's help a. walter and after that
he was made to carry food to the men
and dined at the second table with
Peter. He could play seven-up and
other simple card games. and. under
tho tutelage OF Jack Rafferty,. he be-
came u fine dancer He was espe'
cislly expert ~ n Jig dancer. and the
first squeak OF Peter st. Pierres nddle
would wake him out OF sound sleep
and set him going.
Educated In many useful arts. faith
full and industrious. companionabie
and sweet-tempered Reddy became
loved and famous all through northern
Maine. Many tempting offers were
made for him by rich sportsmen after
witnessing his accomplishments. but
But Reddy's life was ruined by the
demon rum. One Christmas eve some
Bangor sportsmen came to Bradshaw
camp for a nights lodging. bringing
LIQUOR with them. As Joke Reddy
was invited to take \ little whisky
No one thought he would drink the
stuff, but he did. and whimpered Tor
more. After all hands had gone to
sleen Reddy got up and emptied the
bottle, and when 1t came time for him
to 70 out and uncover the bean hole
he was stretched out on the camp
floor snoring like Q volcano. Reddy
was drunk.
From that day Reddy was changed
hear. He was cross and lazy. He be-
came a vagabond. stealing away fro"
camp At every opportunity and being
absent for days at = time. Finally II
was discovered that Reddy was beinl
entertained BY men at = hotel sts
miles away. They gave him all the
whisky he wanted. To get drink al
he had to do was dance or perform
nome OF his many clever tricks. The
hotei-keeper offered st. Pierre 5000 fol
him.
The end came after one Of Reddy''
debauches at the Umbajejus House
In a foozled condition he started fol
home. Had he been sober he woult
have gone straight across the coun
try. making the distance about ii,
miles, but with his head all awhir
he was afraid he might not find his
way. 70 he followed the railroad track
where the going would be easier ans
the Journey safer. II longer. It woult
have been all right At that had Redd,
not fallen asleep ON the track. Tht
night train came along and killed him
He was buried with honors in thu
presence of many mourners.