The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-27

SINGULAR PRESERVATION.


A few days ago, a very amusing, and
somewhat dangerous occurrence took
place a: small circus in the Bowery,
in which there lie an exhibition of wild
beasts, such as elephants, tigers, lions,
&c. The keeper Of the collection one
day went 10 dinner, as usual, under the
impression that his four-foOted actors
we're quite snug in their cages. 1t was
not SO. The cage that contained IL
ger aud tigress was in state of de-
crepilude, SO that the feroeious couple
broke loose. If their keeper was to
eat his beefsteak, Mr. and Mrs. Tiger
thought they ought TO have something
fresh too. Accordingly, h~ire - =
90, .hey GUST riIrir eyes round the habl-
tatioO, as a gormaddizer would in a
cook-sbop, and so selected fine foreign
animal, called Lama, on which TO
dine. AT the approach of the tigering
couple, the poor lama got scared and
sci up grunt. One of the tiger family
1--WE have tiger families eisewhere)
sprung at his throat, brought him down,
and tapped his juguIar vein in twink
ling. Here both the animals slipped
away with great perseverance, as fast
and as cordially as the cobler and his
wife hung over cider barrel in New
Jersey, which they soon emptied of its
contents. The heart of the poor lama was
soon drunk dryby these two feline toPers.
In the mean lime the keeper hac fin
ished his dinner, drunk his glass, and
was putting away at the butt end of a
Spanish cigar, when he entered and
found the work that had been going on.
He was alarmed at first, but his person
al courage did not ooze away, as Acres
did in the play He ventured into the
ring with moose to fling over the
heads of the two ferocious animals,
while they were sucking out the last
drop of blood from the poor lama. The
tigress finished her repast sooner than
her male, turned round while the keep
er was in the very act Of catching them,
and made preparations TO spring upon
him, in the same way that cat does
when she sees mouse. The keeper
felt the danger of his situation, but with
presence of mind he made retreat be-
hind his elephant, who, from the other
side of the circus, was looking on the
scene with great composure. The IL
gress did not forego her intent. She
made a spring at the keeper. past the
elephant, but just at this moment, the
sagacious animal observing, il would
seem, the danger Of his keeper, let out
his trunk with the swiftness Of an arrow
from the bow. and pitched the tigress to
the further end of the circus.
A wonderful huiley-burley was now
kicked up. All the moDkies and bab-
oons scampered up 10 the rafteS, and
the glaring eyes of the enraged tigress
struck dread into the whole, except the
elephant, who folded up his trunk with
neatness after his feat, and the lion who
sat in his cage on his hips like a dog.
looking on with great dignity and COZ n
posure. The keeper now run out from
behind the elephant, and approach ing
his trunk, uttered certain words which
the sagacious animal understood with so
much correctness. The elephant IN
rolled his trunk, the keeper got astride,
and in moment was elevated TO the
back Of his pceserver.
In the mean time the tigress had re-
covered from the toss she had got, and
made new preparations to spring upon
the keeper, who was upon the back of
the elephant. The elephant saw, and
took probOscis measures accordingly
Again the tigFess sprapg upon the man