The Washington times., 1918-11-29

NEW YORK, Nov. ga little black
bear cub named MoIlie, only a year
old and hundred pounds or so in
weight, with reputation for tame
ness gained in an estimable career as
mascot of the 22d Infantry and in
mate OF the Central Park Menagerie.
got loose for two hours in the park
yesterday morning and crowded
enough excitement into that short pc
rtod to last q lifetime.
Tragedy, melodrama and comedy
all these divisions. of drama--were
mingled in Mollie's great adventure.
II 1t were not for the tragic part OF
II, the narrative OF Moliie's two hours
OF freedom would read like a moving
picture comedy. But II caused the
death of Louis Seeboldt, the aged
keeper responsible for the escape who
dropped dead of heart failure during
the excitement.
Wandered In Traffic.
For the rest. she bit a soldier and
a policeman, knocked down a yelling
infant who will never have any faith
In Teddy bears again, scared scores
Of children and nurse maids, enter
tained hundreds OF other persons who
were more curious than afraid. led
police, soldiers and sailors a crazy
chase through the southern end Of
the park; wandered for a few min
utes in the traffic OF Fifty-ninth
street, went back to the park, climbed
trees, was run over by an auto,
Jumped right up and climbed a dozen
other trees, and was finally captured
after a thrilling fght with a police
captain and q sailor on the shaky
limb of q. tree nifty feet from the
ground.
Failed to Lock the Gate.
The cause Of Mollie's escape, which
she made at 1910 o'clock. was the
failure of the keeper to lock the gate
when he went in to clean her cage.
She just walked around him, pushed
the door open with her nose, and
went out for a little stroll in the
park. II was Thanksgiving Day, lots
&C folk were out, and Mollie felt
sociable. She undoubtedly had the
best Intentions in the world, but no
body gave her credit for them.
Mollis at once pointed her nose for
Broadway and proceeded to follow
Il. She roamed around for q few
minutes before her escape was dis
covered by Seebolt- When the keep
er finally started in pursuit she had
evidently become frightened by the
attitude Of the persons in the park. 4!
Some ran away, screaming and shrek
ing, and others ran up close to look |
et her and yelled loudly to one an
other. A few made Intellectual ef- /
forts to catch her
Then iMollie began to show what q |
bear can do when IL comes to going !
from some place to some place else.
She ran faster and faster for the
southern boundary of the park, dodg- 1
ing automobiles and baby carriages. !
Seebolt ran after her as fast as he
could, but he was sixty and soon got /
tired. ]
Soldiers join In Chase.
A few hundred feet from the en-
trance at Fifty-ninth street and Sixth !
avenue there is little encampment
OF the Seventy1first engineers search
light corps, with four or i've khaki
tents on a knoll above the auck pond.
Some Of the soldiers Joined in the
chase. They said later that they !.
Suddenly saw the bear leap to the
top of a big rock. pause a moment
and then run on. Right behind her
came Seeboldt.
The keeper also paused a moment !
atop the big rock. But he did not go
on The soldiers saw him topple over
An ambulance was called
and DIR. Harden, of Bellevue. and DR..
d. Sloane, OF 113 West Fifty
ninth street, both attended him; but
the keeper died within a few minutes.
Every time Mollie climbed a tree
Captain Bourke climbed also. The
captain iS q veteran. but is as hard as
l rock. and is strong as a bull
His Bluff Scared Her
He climbed one tree to a limb
feet above the ground,