A Cub in the Suburbs

Primary Source

Westaddi$western-addition-1860.jpg The Western Addition, about 1860. By 1883 enough chaparral remained to hide a small bear.
Photo: Private Collection, San Francisco, CA

A CUB IN THE SUBURBS

From the Daily Alta California, January 20, 1883.

Residents of the Western Addition are excited over the pranks of a young bear. The beast was observed by Patrolman Russell about two o’clock yesterday morning, in the vicinity of Sacramento and Webster streets, and escaped being shot on account of the officer’s pistol missing fire. Bruin then escaped over a fence, and disappeared in the chaparral. Sergeant Fleming, with a squad of officers, went out in search of the cub, but did not succeed in finding it.