Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-26
BOSS ABLACK BEAR,
DOES NIGHTLY DUTY
IN PLACE OF POLICE
Besides Having a Mighty
Punch in Each Paw, This
Watchman Does Not
Sleep Soundly.

There is a black bear doing police duty
in Gddinstou, Ta.
Eddingtou docs not know just what to
think of its force but some persons, espe-
cialy the children, are enthusiastic over
it. Others regard the force with suspi-
cion. but all treat II with the greatest re-
spect II weighs in the neighborhood OF
200 pounds and has a mighty punch in
either paw.
The bear was sent to y. e. Hanna,
manager Of the Philadelphia Pure Rye
Distlling Company. from the Maine
woods as a joke. But the bear was no
Joke. Mr. Hanna decided that as a little
pet at his home. 42f2 Parkside avenue. a
bear would not be a hit among the neigh
bors. He recalled that he was in need Of
night watchman at his plant. so he
named the bear Boss" and gave him
the job.
The distillery covers nearly 20 acres Of
land, and Boss" patrols all that, At
night his headquarters are in the com
pany'S offices.
Bos is six months old and already is
as large as a Newfoundland dog He has
an amiable disposition and plays with the
cats OF the distillery. but he has an in
herited aversion to dogs. Rocks, the bull
dog at the plant, he chases, and Malt, the
Irish terrier. he ignores.
1t was decided Yesterday that a bath
would not hurt Boss. What is more, the
bath was deemed almost Imperative. Cap
tain Albert Quigley and John Hart Gov
ernment officers detailed at the distillery.
and John Rigbey. the engineer. escorted
Boss TO n pond on the companys prop
erty. Boss waded in one side of the pond
and out the other and disappeared in the
underbrush.
Captain Quigey. Hart and Rigby gave
pursuit.
NEGRO IN A HURRY.
1t was an hour later that they met a
Negro walking along one of the roads.
He was looking anxiously over his shoul-
der and walking as II in hurry.
"Ah you lookin' TO dog. ah maghty
big deg" asked the Negro.
We are looking for a bear returned
the rescue party.
Nah goodness me. dat was him, dat
was him" exclaimed the Negro. and he
hurried along without further explana-
ton
Boss was found mile further on. He
had located the Delaware River and was
having a swim. Rib Rgbey called him
and the bear came ashore. He climbed
a tree and there he stayed until he was
dry. Many a bear has had a man up
a tree, literally and tguratvely. Now
BOSS" was up a tree
Most of the day the bear is chained
to a shed foot from the Pennsylvania
Railroad tracks and passengers on the
New York trains can get glimpse Of
him. Oftentimes they rub their eyes and
try to take another look The trains run
too fast al this point for sightseeing
and it is probable that most passengers
think their eyes have played them a
trick
II was different with the track inspec-
tors train on the New York division.
He saw the bear yesterday, stopped his
train and had it backed up to get a sec
ond look. Then he climbed out Of his
observation car and made Boss ac-
quaintance. Both seemed to be pleased
at the meeting.
BOSS HAS y TENDER NOSE.
Rigbcy is the man to whom Boss shows
The most respect. Rigbey is not afraid
of bear. but Boss did not know that
at first. Boss nipped Rigbey on the
hand He may have been Joking in a
beariesh way. but Rigbey did not ap-
preciate the humor. He slapped the bear
on the tip Of the nose, and if there is
one thing which disgusts a bear and
takes the fighting ambition out Of him
il Is just this.
Mr.. Hanna IS certain that Boss will
make good as a watChman. He sleeps
Just as well as any watChman at night,
but he has this advautage-it takes very
little 10 awaken him. He got up last
night because a mouse in running across
the office floor made too much noise
That mouse will never run again. II
is now Il part Of Boss
The bear eats, Just Ike a policeman.
He is not particular what ne eats, and
stays at il for hours.