LOCKED UP WITH WILD BEASTS ON A RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 62, 12 March 1872, Page 4

LOCKED UP WITH WILD BEASTS ON A RAILWAY.

The London Free Press (Canada) says : —The men on the mixed train going west had a pretty good sized sensation, just as the train arrived at Bothwell. As the noise of the wheels subsided, unusual and excited sounds were heard coming from a " bounded car " which all along the passage from the Suspension Bridge had remained under lock and key, attracting no especial notice from any one, as no one on the train seemed aware of its true contents. Gradually the noises grew louder and more excited, scuffling was heard, accompanied by yells and imprecations from a human voice, and a series of low fierce snarls and growls, as from an enraged and powerful animal ; then a scuffling to and fro, and more excited, but perfectly unintelligible exclamations. The men were at

a loss what to make of all this and marvelled exceedingly. A crowd collected, j and noises of the same character continued j within. There appeared to be a terrible rumpus inside the car, which each moment grew more desperate and alarming. All at once a violent thumping agaiust the door and the voice of the man, which had by this time grown more coherent, but sounded faint and smothered, broke out in exclamatory appeals, "Brek door ! brek door ! Ingun get killed ! " After which the struggle seemed to be renewed more furiously than ever, " iDgun" giving vent to short yells of pain and distress. No time was lost by the men outside, who proceeded at once to obey the call, and break the lock. No sooner had the door been partially opened, than out sprang a strapping young Indian in a terribly excited state, minus his hat, with his clothing hanging in shreds about his body, and displaying several bleeding wounds. He was well-nigh exhausted, but did not stop running till he got behind the station-house in a place of safety, where he stood panting for breath for some minutes before any one of those who surrounded him could elicit any information from him as to the nature of the ordeal through which he passed. That, however, was perfectly intelligible to those who witnessed his escape, for he had no sooner got clear than a large black bear came snuffing at the door, wanting to get out, too, and pursue his enemy like a roarin lion to devour him. There were several other animals ia the car, some of them in cages, and some securely fastened with chains and ropes. The collection, it appears, belorjged to a travelling showman, who proposed to exhibit in a western town. The Indian boy relates that he was employed by the proprietors at eight dollars a month to attend the animals in their travels as keeper, that he had been shut up with them in the car for nearly three days, with nothing to eat but bread and turnips, and with only water to drink ; that the old bear had become restive in the car while on the journey, probably from hunger and thirst, and ended by committing au assault upon him, which he repelled as long as he was able to hold out. Twice she got her arms fondly n round him, and would certainly have hugged him to death but for herculean str ngth which enabled him to throw her <If and spurn her advances. "He tink mi; big fool! w says he; "Ingun only get ei^it dollars a month, and a chance to ge;. ate up into the bargain. No, no, my friend, that muchy too thin ! Not for Joseph — not if he knows it."