BUTTERWICK'S BEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 13

BUTTERWICK'S BEAR.

By MAX AD-KXiER, a

Butterwick was out Iα Colorado last spring lor a month, or two, and just before ■he started for the Journey home, he wiote to his wife concerning the probable time of lids arrival. As a postscript to the letter, he added the following message to his son, a boy about eight years old:— "Tell Charley I am going to bring wftfc mc a. dear little baby bear that I bougtit from an Indian." Of course that Information pleased Charley, and he directed most of his thoughts and his conversation to the subject of the bear during the next two weeks, wishing anxiously for his father to come with the little pet On the night which had been fixed by Butterwick for his arrival, he did not come, and the family were very much, disappointed. Charley, particularly, was cut up because he couldn't get the bear. On the next evening, while Mrs. Butterwick and the children were sitting in the front room, with the door open into the hall, they heard somebody running- through. the front yard. Then the front door was suddenly burst open, and o. in mi dn slied into the hall and upstairs at frightful speed.

Mrs. Butterwick was just about to go up after him, to ascertain who It was, when a large, dark animal of some kind darted in through the door, and, with an awful growl, went bowling upstairs after the man. It suddenly flashed upon the mind of Mrs. Butterwick that the man was her husband, and that that was the little baby bear.

Just then the voice of Butterwick was heard calling from the top landing:

'"Maria! for Heaven's sake get out of the house as quick as you can, and shut all the doors and window-shutters."

Then Mrs. Butterwick sent the boys into Partridge's, next door, and she closed tn« shutters, locked all the doors, and went into the yard 'to await further developments. When she got outside she saw Butterwick on the roof, kneeling on the trap-door, which he kept down only by tho most tremendous exertions. Then he screamed for somebody to come up and help him, and Mr. Partridge got a ladder and o. hatchet, and some nails, and ascended. Then they nailed down the trap-door, and Butterwick and Partridge came down the ladder together. After he had greeted his family, 'Mrs. Butterwick asked htm what was the matter, and he said:

"Why, you know that little baby bear I said I'd bring Charley? Well, I had him in a box until I got off the train up here at the depot. And then I thought I'd take him out and lead him around by the chain. But the first thing he did was to fly at my leg, and when I jumped back I ran, and •he after mc. He woud've eaten mc up in about a minute. That infernal Indian must have fooled mc. He eald It was a cub only two months old, and it hud no teeth. I believe it's a full-grown beer."

It then became a Tery interesting question how they should get that bear out of the house. Butterwlck thought they had better try to shoot him, and he asked a lot of the neighbours to conic around to help with their shotguus. When they would hear the bear scratching at one of the windows they would pour In a volley at him, but after riddling every shutter oa the first floor, they could etill hear the bear tearing around in there and growling. So Butterwlck and the others got Into the cellar, and as tie bear crossed the door they would lire up through, it at about the spot where they thought he was. But the 'bombardment only seemed to exasperate the animal, and after each shot they could hear him smashing something.

Then Partridge said maybe a couple of good dogs might whip him, and he borrowed a bulldog and a setter from Barney Mnglnn and pushed them through the front door. They listened, and for half an hour they could hear a most terrific contest raging, and Maginn said he'd bet a million dollars that bulldog would eat up any two bears in the Rocky mountains.

Then everything became still, and a few moments later they could hear the bear eating something and cracking bones with his teeth, and Butterwick eaid that the Indian out in Colorado told him that the .bear was particularly fond of dog meat, and could relish a litter of pups almost any time.

At last Butterwick thought he would try strategy. He procured a huge Iron hook with a sharp point to It, tied it to a rope, and put three or four pounds of fresh beef on the hook. Then he went up the ladder, opened the trapdoor In the roof, and dropped in the bait. In a few- moments he got a bite, and all hands manned the ropes and polled, when out came Partridge's bulldog, which had 'been hiding in the garret. Butterwick was disgusted, but he put on ■fresh bait and threw In again, and In about an hour the bear took hold, and they hauled him out and knocked him on the head.

Then they entered the house. In the ■hall the carpet was covered with particles of dead setter, and in the parlour the carpet and windows had been shot to pieces, while the furniture was full of bullet holes. The bear had smashed the mirror, torn up six or seven chairs, knocked over the lamp, and demolished all the crockery in the pantry. Butterwick gritted his teeth as he surveyed the ruin, and Mrs Butterwick said she wished to patience he had stayed In Colorado. However, they fixed things up as well as they could, and then Mrs Butterwick sent Into Partridge's for Charley and the j-ounjrest girl. When Charley came he rushed up to Butterwick, and said:

Oh, papj Where's my little baby bear?" Then Butterwtek gazed at him severely *OT a moment, looked to see If Mrs Butterwick had left the room, and then gave Charley the most terrific spanking that he ever received.

The Buttenvick children have no pets at present, but a Poltmd rooster, which has moulted his tail.