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Marfeldt Photography

Fire, flood or disaster · 21.10.1928

A bear attacks a child at the Tartu market

Karu ründab last Tartu turul

On Sunday evening, 21 October 1928, a crowd gathered at a travelling 'zoo' on Police Square, Tartu's market place by the river. The keeper sent the grown-ups to the back and the children to the front, led a bear out of its cage, patted it, and let the children toss it bits of bread, with only a light handrail between them. When he stepped away the bear hooked a four-year-old boy by the leg, pulling him from his mother's hand. The father wrenched him free; the boy had four deep bite wounds around the knee. Postimees blamed the owner and the officials who had allowed such a flimsy barrier.

Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today

Eesti keeles

Pühapäeva õhtul, 21. oktoobril 1928 kogunes Tartu turule Politsei platsil palju rahvast rändava „loomaaia“ juurde. Taltsutaja saatis täiskasvanud taha ja lapsed ette, tõi karu puurist välja, patsutas teda ja lapsed viskasid karule saiatükke – nende vahel oli vaid kerge käsipuu. Kui taltsutaja mõne sammu eemale läks, haaras karu nelja-aastase poisi jalast ja tõmbas ta ema käest enda alla. Isa kiskus lapse lahti; poisi põlve ümber oli neli sügavat hambahaava. Postimees süüdistas looma omanikku ja ametnikke, kes nii nõrga kaitse lubasid.

Map of the area around A bear attacks a child at the Tartu market
58.37950° N, 26.72750° E · Map: Maa- ja Ruumiamet

Source: Postimees, 23 October 1928, p. 7 (DIGAR) ↗

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