The Sun. — 1844-06-13 (London, England)

FEMALES WORRIED BY A BEAR.—On Saturday last, ahout eight o'clock, a bear about three years of age, which had been confined in a pit in the above establishment, suddenly leaped overthe boundary, and got admission into the gardens. The proprietor, Mr. liaselgrave, was from home at the time, but his wife and sister-inlaw attempted to drive it back again, when it turned upon them, and worried them in a shocking manner." Their shrieks of agony brought some persons to their assistance, and among others Mr. William Stead, of Westgate, who attacked the bear with a garden hoe, and succeeded at imminent hazard to himself, in attracting the attention of the brute from the unfortunate females. Mr. Stead himself had a narrow escape. The excitement that now prevailed WiS very great, as it was feared that the enraged brute, rendered furious after the taste of human blood, would leap the outer walls o the gardens; but such a calamity was happily prevented by the gallant efforts of Mr. Broughton Boston, son of Mr. Boston, gnu maker, who, having armed himself with a gun heavily charged, entered the garden, accompanied by Mr. William Drake, plumber, also armed, and on the bear advancing towards them with a savage growl, Mr. Drake fired, but without waiting until within- a proper distance, as the animal was merely turned in its course, without being seriously injured.. Young Boston, however, followed it to the lower part of the garden, and there, at about two yards distance, delivered the charge into his head, rolling the huge creature over, but not dispatching it ; he then retireated, pistols,arri ved hatchets, and were othei too• lateand having reloaded his gun with slugs, again approached, , but, as and after two other shots succeeded in destroying the brute. Several withter murderous weapons parties afterwards for the fight, contented themselves by claiming a great deal of the honour. The two females On being taken up were found to be dreadfully lacerated about h t eir arms, thigh, and other parts of their bodies, and several medical men being speedily in attendance, every attention was paid to them; those attentions have been unremittingly continued, and at the time of our account leaving -Wakefield, it was hoped that the lives of both the females might be saved. A report has been circulated in Wakefield, that the bear was rendered savage from want of food, but this, we are assured, is incorrect, and that the savageness of the animal is pot attributable to any cause over which the proprietor had control. It. as sickening to see the eagerness of the bear in following the course where the females were carried, licking the blood as it went, and on reaching the room where they were placed, forcing its paws through the windows, and endeavouring to burst its way through them in pursuit of its prey. Great praise is due to Mr. btead, Mr. Drake, and Mr. Boston, fur their prompt and courageous conduct.—Leeds 3lercury. ACCIDENT AT THE CALEDONIAN CANAL —We regret to state that, en Saturday last, a man, employed on the repair of that part of the canal which joins the sea at Corpach, was killed, in consequence of the breaking o f the chain of a crane, whereby a b!ock of stone, of about three tons weight, fell upon the unfortunate man and crushed him to death.—Ross-shire Advertiser. A