Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1879 — THRILLING BEAK STORY. [ARTICLE]

THRILLING BEAK STORY.

A Child Falls Into a Bear Pit—Fearful Encounter. [From the Montreal Witneea ] It is well known certain class that “Joe Beef” has a bear pit under his canteen on Common street. It extends all along under the house, and is reigned over by a big black bear weighing over 400 pounds. There are also a she bear and two comparatively youLg cubs, which Joe reckons among his domestic pets. Strangers frequently visit the place and are generally escorted to see the bears through a trap-door in the floor. Yesterday afternoon, while a colored preacher was holding service in the “ singing room,” three American strangers came to visit the place, and the trap door was thrown open to show the bears. While Joe went into the bar-room his little boy, 6 years old, went too near the edge and fell into the den. The old bears were in a dark corner, but one of the cubs at once ran toward the child, who had uttered a frightened scream. The cook lay down on the floor, and reaching down caught the little fellow and raised him up. The she bear had heard the child’s cries, and with a growl rushed toward the trap-door and seized the child just as he was being lifted up. The little fellow was in an instant dragged into the den, encircled by the claws of the old she bear. Joe, hearing the noise which the fearful sight caused, came to the door and asked what was the matter. Seeing his child, as it were, in the jaws of death, he did not hesitate for moment to think, but leaped from the floor into the pit, lighting on the head of one of the bears. He managed by a frantic effort to tear his child from the savage monster and threw him behind. In another instant he handed the little fellow up among the almost-paralyzed spectators. The men around seemed so struck with terror that they could do nothing to help Joe, who had placed himself in such imminent danger. The moment the child was out of the pit the she bear growled fiercely and sprung on Joe, who had no arms with which to defend himself. The savage brute seized him by the right knee, throwing him on his back. Her teeth were driven fully an inch deep into his flesh. He was then completely at the mercy of the animal, whose tameness had disappeared, it being enraged at having the child taken away. The men looking on still seemed powerless to help, though one of the visitors had a revolver in his pocket. Joe, however, did not lose his presence of xrind, but seized a brick which lay near him, and struck the bear on the snout with all his might. The biute let go her hold and Joe quickly got on his feet. The old he bear had not shown fight at all, but, when Joe shouted, had slunk back to ilie dark corner. The she bear now stood ofl showing her teeth, but he continued to shout and she also went back. Joe was then rescued from the pit, his legs being covered with blood. The trousers which he had on were torn to shreds and bis stockings were saturated with blood. The child had not been injured at all beyond a slight scratch on the head. Joe says that the she bear was always a contrary beast, and that when he trained her he used to put her in a puncheon of water and push her head under with a broom, and, when the cub was nearly drowned it would bite the broom. Joe refuses all medical attendance, and applies high wines to the bite, which continues to bleed to-day.