The Meeker herald., 1912-10-12
CAMP BEAR ON SPREE
souR.l gooEp DOMESTIC rRAMs-
FORMED INTO MiscRGAMT.
Taught 70 Drink BY Men Of the Camp,
Hs Took TO Going Out for .
.0oed Time~-Nvn Over
BY Train.

BY Train.
Bangor. Maine.-Reddy. the lumber
camp bear OF Reddingtoa. 10 dead.
gone TO . drunkard's grave.
-Four years ago Reddy was found.
whining and shiveying . 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. II was pretty near the
end Of the season At Bradshaw's. Tho
cook, Peter st. Pierre. adopted him
and later took him to his home. few
miles away. Peter had q wife. but no
childreu. and Reddy got all tho atten,
ton and pettins that Peter would
have bestowed Upon . son. Next sea
son. when Peter took him back to
camp. he was the best educated bear
In all Maine. r
What Reddy couldn't 10 Ia the line
Of clever tricks wasn't worth men
tloning. and Peter declared that he
was great help TO him. Reddy would
scour pots and pans. 20 out and fetch
chips for kidding. 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 nrst Reddy used 70 sit up at the
table with the men and eat. and visit
ors said his table manners were per
feet. excepl that he always Tapped his
tin plate clean after eating napjacks
and molasses. He drank coffee from
tin dipper like the rest and used to
bang his dipper ON the table when he
wanted more. But when the crow was
Increased In numbers Peter needed
Reddy's help a. 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 u flne dancer He was espe-
cieliy expert ~ Jig dancer. and the
nrst squeak Of Peter st. Pierre's fiddle
would wake him out OF sound sleep
aud yet him going.
Educated in many useful arts. faith.
full and industrious. companiouable
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
gold could not buy him away.
But Reddy's life was ruined BY the
demon rum. Ono Christmas sve some
Bangor sportsmeu 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 II came time for him
to 20 out and uncover tho bean hole
he was stretched out on the camp
ioor. snoring like . volcano. Reddy
was drunk.
From that day Reddy was changed
hear. He was cross and lazy. He be-
came q vagabond. stealing away from
camp at every opportunity and being
absent for days at = time. Finally It
was discovered that Reddy was being
entertained BY men At . hotel sig
miles away. They gave him all the
whisky he wanted. To get drink all
he had to do was dance or perform
some Of his many clever tricks. The
hotel-keeper offered st. Pierre 5000 for
him
The end came after one Of Reddy's
debauches at the Umba1ejus House.
In = fooled condition he started for
home. Had no been sober he would
have gone straight across the coun-
try. making the distance about sig
miles. but with his head all awhiri
he was afraid no might not md his
way. 10 he followed the railroad track
where the going would be easier and
tho journey safef. II longer. 1t would
have been all right ut that 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..
Rive TUE R0TTnM NJ A Ray