Thursday, May 30, 2024

Fire Department's Pet Bear Mauls 3-Year-Old Marian Goodes, May 29, 1924

Little Girl Is Attacked and Seriously Hurt by Pet Bear. . . The Combined Efforts of Several People Were Necessary to Release the child from the Bear’s Grip

Burlington, May 28—Little Marian Goodes, 3-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Goodes, was attacked and badly injured Sunday afternoon by the bear being held here the past year as a pet by the boys at the fire-house. Her father was standing in the door of the fire-house, leaving the little girl in charge of two small brothers, he stated. Screams from the alleyway, where the bear was chained, were the first the father knew of the child getting too near bruin. the father, policeman Curry Murray, Boyd Trollinger, and others rushed to the bear, under which the child was almost hidden, and their combined efforts were necessary to release her. James Curry Isley thrust his hand in the bear’s mouth and his finger was bitten through. The child was rushed to the hospital, where her wounds were dressed and, unless some complications arise, it is now thought she will recover. there were severe teeth lacerations in the fleshy part of her back, scratches and bruises on her body.

The bear had been suffering several days with a mouth disease, and it was not thought that this communicable. But, to be on the safe side, the bear was shot this afternoon by the policemen, at the mayor’s command, and his head sent to Raleigh to learn the nature of his trouble. It was thought his illness was the result of stomach trouble, which also accounted for his ferocity. The bear has been a great favorite the year he has been here and had never shown any violence. He has been fed up day after day on soft drinks, peanuts and other things which his friends and visitors delighted to give him.

From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Thursday, May 29, 1924

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