Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-09-13
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CAMP BEAR ON SPREE
FoUR.LEooED DOMESTIC TRANS
FORMED INTO MiscREANT.
Taught to Drink by Men Of the Camp,
He Took to Going Out for a
"Good Tlme"-Run Over
by Train.

Bangor, Maine.--Reddy. the lumber
camp bear Of Reddington. is dead.
gone to drunkard's grave.
Four years ago Reddy was found.
whining and shivering. friendless or.
phan 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 son. Next sea-
son. when Peter took him back tc
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 a great help to him. Reddy would
scour pots and pans. go out and fetch
chips for kindling. make up the mems
hunks. tidy up the camp. help clear of
the table. and early on frosty morn.
ings would 90 out and uncover the
bean hole quicker than man could
do it 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 with 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 flapjacks
and molasses. He drank coffee from
a tin dipper like the 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 as waiter. 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
the tutelage Of Jack Rafferty,, he be-
came fine dancer. He was espe'
cially>expert as a Jig dancer, and the
first squeak of Peter St. Pierre's fiddle
would wake him out Of sound sleep
and set him going.
Educated In many useful arts, faith
full and industrious. companionable
and swcet-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
gold could not buy him away.
But Reddy's life was ruined by the
demon rum. One Christmas eve some
Bangor sportsmen came to Bradshaw's
camp for 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 for
more. After all hands had gone to
sleep 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 a volcano. Reddy
was drunk.
From that day Reddy was changed
bear. He was cross and lazy. He be-
came a vagabond, stealing away from
camp at every opportunity and being
absent for days at time. Finally 1t
was discovered that Reddy was being
entertained by men at a hotel six
miles away. They gave him all the
whisky he wanted To get a drink all
he had to do was dance or perform
some of his many clever tricks. The
hotsl-keeper offered st. Pierre 5000 for
him.
The end came after one Of Reddy's
debauches at the Umbajejus House.
In a fooled condition he started for
home, Had he been sober he would
have spne straight across the coun-
try, making the distance about six
miles, hut with his head all awhirl
he was afraid he might not find his
way, SO he followed the railroad track,
where tie going would be easier and
the journey safer, If longer. 1t would
have been all right at tina: had Reddy
not fallen asleep on the track The
night train came along and killed him.
He was buried with honors In the
presence of many mourners.