NEARLY KILLED BY A BEAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1906, 31 July 1888, Page 2

NEARLY KILLED BY A BEAR

Pezon, the wild beast tamer, while performing m France, was near belDg killed by a black boar. His menagerie was at Ohalone-Bur-Marne, and he had jiist entered the beat's cage to put it through ita usual exeroises, when the animal pulled him down on the flior. The spectators were sefzsd with panic. Some fled out of the menagerie and othera screamed ; but Pezin's son at once entered the cage to rescue his father, th ->ogh the young man was without any weapon. He attacked the bear with furious klokfl, which bad but little or no effect ; BDd he would probably have failed to save hia father, and, perhaps have himself fallen a victim to the bear, if a aoldler, who was one of the spectators, had not drawn his Babre and handed It to young Ptzin through the bars of the cege, With this he stabbed the bear. At the first thrust the infuriated animal left the elder Pezm, and, standing on its bind legs, tried to hug the son. The latter, however, plunged I his weapon several limes into the bear's stomach. The animal was not then, however, killed, and oontlnued pursuing his adversary, la the meanwhile the young man's father had got up and left the cage. The contest; was at length put an end to by one of the men employed at the menagerie fetching a gun loaded with big shot. Firing m the bear's face*, both lti eyes were blinded, and young Pezon was able to make his escape out of the cage. His father was not dangerously Injured, though two of his ribs were broken.