A BEAR AT LARGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143451, 11 March 1911, Page 7

A BEAR AT LARGE.

After about 40 hours’ liberty, during which his movements caused considerable apprehension in the neighbourhood of Folkestone and Hythe. the Himalayan bear whch escaped from Shonicllffn Camp on Christmas night was recaptured, says an English paper of December 28. The animal bad evidently covered a wide tract of country in his wanderings, as he was seen at Newington, near Hytho, on .Monday night by a farm labourer, who was considerably frightened. Tho bear was also reported to have been seen at Beaoliborough, near Uyminge. The hunt yesterday was carried out in a very systematic manner by the men of the King's Royal Rifles, of which corps the escaped hear was the mascot, hating been brought by them from India to tho camp. Under the direction of the officers the men were divided into parties of 20, who searched the country for miles around the camp, paying special attention to the woods, of which there are many in the direction of Uyminge and HoaehImrough. Caesar's Camp and the neighbourhood, which afford a good deni of cover,, were also systematically beaten through by the search parties. The Kent County Constabulary throughout the district were ako on tho lookout for the bear, but despite all their efforts no trace of him could ho found. The opinion of the men who knew the ways of the, hear was that ho had made himself comfortable In one of the woods, and would lie low until hunger compelled him to come out. M’hen the search parties of Riflemen were returning to camp, disappointed with the fruitless result of two days’ heating, the news was received that tho runaway had been discovered. A little hoy six years old saw the hear among the ruins of the Royal Engineers' quarters which were burnt down some time ago, on an outlying portion of Shonielil'fo Camp. He reported his discovery to some soldiers, and a party of .Riflemen went out to capture the animal. The hear, however resented tho loss of his liberty; ho refused even to bo cajoled with a bottle of ginger boor, which was his favourite drink. Some of tho soldiers then came to close quarters with “Teddy,” as ho is called, but before ho could he chained he knocked over several of the men. Ultimately, however, he allowed himself to bo taken hack to the camp. The hoar is 15 months old, black in colour, and was presented to tho hand when a enh. He made his escape l.y pushing down the heavy fence and iron railings which imprisoned him. It is said that some of tho men had given “Teddy” an extra quantity of beer on Christmas night, and this had apparently made him lively.