Friday, August 20, 2010

Bear Kills Caretaker

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio (Aug. 20) -- A bear fatally mauled its caretaker during a feeding on property holding dozens of other exotic pets owned by a man who drew the wrath of activists -- and lost his license to exhibit -- after offering people the chance to wrestle bears at a Cleveland expo.

The bear in the attack southwest of Cleveland was not one that owner Sam Mazzola had used for wrestling, officials said. His license to show animals had been revoked, but he apparently was still allowed to keep them on his property, which housed a menagerie including several bears, 20 wolves, tigers and lions.

Wrestled a bear once. On liberty from Camp Lejeune  back somewhere's in the latish 60's. Group of us went to this fair where you could wrestle a bear, a gorilla, or box a chimp. The bear was actually a friendly old fellow, the gorilla just wanted to go to sleep, but that chimp, man that chimp was an arch criminal. Beat me up more than the bear or the gorilla did. But nothing was as furious as that ruckus we started over at the Palm Reader's tent. Two ladies I remember quite well from those days; Painless Nell who ran the tattoo parlor in San Diego, and Madam Fatima who told your fortune in North Carolina. Painless was far from it but you at least ASKED her to maim you for life. Fatima could use a knife. Really well.

Dealing with dangerous critters is something young men do, that is not conducive to their become old men. Now and forever, nothing much changes but today there's the internet to mock you if you get caught being an ass.

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