Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 161, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1920 — IN UNEQUAL FIGHT [ARTICLE]

IN UNEQUAL FIGHT

Himalayan Bear’s Foolish Cen»> bat With Stone. Like Too Many Member* of the man Race, the Animal Ie a Vto> tim of His-Unconquerable Obstinaoy. Most wild animals, ft appears, are stupid as well as greedy and obstinate. But tor sheer brainless obstinacy In the face of opposition there Is, the best authorities contend, no animal like the Himalayas bear. If he finds a thing In his way he will always push ft aside if he can, even though ft would be easier to go around the obstacle. / ' • The wily natives of India have observed that trait in his character and from it have contrived a trap to catch him. They select, a tree with a suitable horizontal bough. At a point on the bough about ten or twelve feet from the fork they fasten a bait likely to attract the bear —honey, for example, or goat's flesh. Then from another bough above that one they suspend a heavy block of stone. The rope is so fastened to the; upper bough that the stone hangs between the bait and the fork of the trees. The bear seents the bait from a distance, comes to the tree, sees the food on the bough and cljmbs up the tree. Reaching the bough, he walks along ft to get at the batt. But suddenly he notices the obstacle in his way and pushes it aside with his paw. The stone swings out of the way for a second; then it swings back and hits the bear on the paw. With a growl of Irritation the bear pushes it aside more violently. The stone swings away again; then ft returns with ■ greater force and hits the bear on the chest With a snarl of rage the bear gives <

the stone a' tremendous thrust and sends It up into the air in a wide curve. Then down comes the stone in a similar curve and hits the bear a thumping whack on the ribs. Most animals would desist after that third blow; not so the bear. He is now in a perfectly mad rage, and a bear is a good boxer. He hits- out with his paws, right and loft and sends the stone hurtling forward in a still wider curve. Then, after a few seconds, the stone comes back and hits the bear a terrific "uppercut” on the jaw. But alas! the bear never .went to school and learned the law of gravity. Every blow he hits the stone is returned tenfold. And as the stone has no brains to be knocked out, it is the bear that gets knocked out. Then the wily natives hiding below rush in with a net and throw dt quickly over him. And that is hew any “soo” or menagerie gets ite Himalayan bear.