H. Bernard Bertolet rescued Charles Poppa, Jr., from an attack by a bear, Langhorne, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1960. In the enclosed bear house at a small zoo two adult Canadian bears forced open a connecting gate and entered the section where Poppa, 66, zoo attendant, was at work. One of the bears, a male weighing about 700 pounds, began to maul Poppa, who screamed for help as he was knocked to the cement floor. Bertolet, 63, zoo owner, was attracted and entered the house, where the bear was astride Poppa, biting and chewing his leg. The other bear, a female of equal size, stood growling a few feet away. Bertolet picked up a length of plank three feet long and moved close to the male bear. He struck the animal forcibly on the head about 10 times before it stopped its attack on Poppa. Continuing to strike the bear on the head, Bertolet aided Poppa partially to his feet. As the bear moved away momentarily, Bertolet placed an arm around the waist of Poppa, who barely was conscious, and backed to the entrance gate with him. The male bear followed and, raising itself on two feet, lunged at Bertolet. He struck the bear several times on the head, dragged Poppa through the gate, and slammed it shut. As Bertolet locked the gate, the bear lunged against it, biting at the bars and growling fiercely. Poppa was hospitalized for more than two months for severe wounds of his leg, which was broken in two places. 45243-4391
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