Transcribed from a hand-written page in a Merck/Wing scrapbook; no dates visible.

TWO YOUNG BOYS
Confined for Several Hours in a Big Iron Cage

Sunday afternoon, Guy Smith, the young son of the editor of the True Democrat, was permitted to visit his friend, Ashford Daniel, at the Leon Hotel.

When the shades of night begin to fall the boy had not returned home, the family were uneasy and began to fear disobedience on the part of the little fellow.

As darkness increased the anxiety of the parents was augmented. Just as the father was preparing to go out on an investigating tour, Mrs. Daniels reached the house and explained the boy's absence.

Early in the afternoon the two young friends had gone into an immense iron cage, in a remote corner of the hotel grounds, in which a bear had been for several years confined, shutting the door as they entered.

On attempting to leave, a few moments later they were amazed and horrified to find that they were securely locked therein. They attempted in many ways to gain their liberty but in vain. No one came near enough to be attracted by their calls and they could do nothing but hopefully await their rescue.

They were found only when the parents of Ashford became uneasy at his long absence and instituted search about the grounds.

After they were found it was necessary to send to the business portion of the city to procure tools before they could be released.

The friends of the boys now refer to them as "the two Tallahassee bears." It is needless to say that they will be more careful in future about entering the cages of wild beasts.