The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-01-08
SINGULAR PRESERVATION.

few days ago very amusing aud some.
what dangerous occurrence took place at a small
circus in the Bowery in which there is an eXhi-
bltion ofwiId beasts, such AS elephants, tigers
lions NC. The keeper of the collection one day
went to diuner, rs usual, under the impression
that his four footed actors were quite snug IN
their cages Ii was not so. The cage that con
| tanned tiger add tkress, was in a state OF
decrepitude, so that the fcrocious couple broke
| lsoSe. lftheir keeper was to eat ais beef steak
MIR. and Mrs. ileer thong ut they ought to have
something fresh too. Accordingly being free
air, they cast their eyes round the habitation,
as Il gormandiSer would in a cook shop and so
| SCI ctcd a fne foreign animal called Lama, ON
which to dine. AT heapproach OF the tigering
| couple, the poor lama got scared and set up Il
| grunt. Ii would not do. One of the tiger fam
lily 1--WE have tiger families elsewhere) sprung at
| his throat, brought him down and tapped his
| jugular vein in twinklinc Here both the ami
mails slipped away with great perseverance, as
fast and as cordially as the cobler ard his wife
hung over a cider barrel in New.Jersey, which
they soon cmpted OF its contents. The heart Of
the poor lama was soon drunk by these two fe-
line topcrS.
In the mean time the keeper had finished his
dinner, drunk his glass, and was putting away at
the butt end ola Spanish Scgar, when he entered
and found the work that had been going on
lie was alarmed at first, but his personal cour-
age did not ooze away 10 Acres did in the
play. lie Nentured into the ring with a moose TO
iliue the heads of the two ferocious ami
mals, while they were sucking out the last drop
of blood from the poor lama. The tipress fin
ished her rcpast sooner than her mate. turned
round while the keeper was in the very act of
catching them, and made preparations to spring
upon hun, IN the same way that a cat does
when she sees Il mouse The keeper felt the
danger OF his situation, but with great presence
OF inmd he made retreat behind mis- elephant,
who, from the other side of the circus. was look
my on the scene with great composure. The
tlgress did not torego her intent. She made a
spring at the keeper, past the elephant but lust
at this moment the sagaCiouS animal observing.
II would seem, the danger Of his keeper. let
out his trunk with the sWftuess of an arrow from
the bow pnd pitched the tigreSs to the further
end Of the circus
wonderful hurley hurley was now kicked
up. All the monilies and balloons scampered
up to the ratters, aud the glarng eyes of the en-
ragged tigress struck dread into the whole ex
cept the elephant, who folded up his trunk with
neatness after his feat, and the Eon, who sat in
his cage on ms hips like dog. looking OH with
great dignity and composure. The keeper now
run OUT trom behind the elephant, and approach
nv H'o toin ut'eitu CERTAIN words which the
gacious animal understood with much correct
ness. The elephan; mroiled his trunk. the keen.
! er got astfide, and in "a moment was elevated TO
the back of his pteseryer
| In the mean time the tgress had recovered
! from the toss she had got, and made new prepar.
atoms to spring upon the keeper. who was upon
| the back OF the elephant. The elephant saw and
took pToboscis measures accordingly Again the
hgresS sprang upon the man, and again the ee
phant nterposed his trunk and tossed the tigrpss
a second time to the far.hcst extremity ofthe cir
Gus. This pitch wounded the side of the tigress
aud finding there was no use in trying further to