The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-01

cesaary were made, the combat commenced
at o'clock in the evening
Il Was arranged that three dogs should be
let In at once upon Nero--that- after be had
overcome those, an interval of 20 minutes
should elapse, and then the three others
should be set upon him. The dogs are thus
described:
II. Turk. brown dog; 2. Captain, fallow
and white dog with skew- bald faces 3. Tiger,
brown dog with white legs; 1. Nettle, . little
brindle bitch with black head; S. Rose, q
skew bald bitch; 6. Nelson. . white dog with
brindled Spots"
THE COMBAT.
| Nero followed Wombwell, the keeper, from
his travelling caravan into the large cage as
tamely as q Newfoundland dog; his whole
demeanor was so quiet and generous, that at
| bis first appearance, it became very much
doubted whether he would attempt to fight at
all. While the multitude shouted and the
dogs yelled, he walked up and down the cage
with composure-not at all angered or even
excited. Wombwell leaving the cage, the
first relay Of dogs was laid on.
| First Combat
| l. The dogs as if in concert, few at the Ii.
on's nose, and endeavored to pin him, but
Nero still kept up his head, striking with his
fore-paws, and seemingly endeavoring more
to get rid of the annoyance than to lnJure
them.
2. They increasingly kept goading, biting
and darling at his nose, sometimes hanging
from his mouth, or one endeavoring TO pin
paw, while the others mangled the head.
3. Turk made desperate spring at the
nose. and absolutely held there for moment,
while Captain and Tiger each seized paw;
the force OF all three brought the lion from his
feet, and he was pinned to the floor for the
instant.
4. His great strength enabled him to shake
off the dogs and then, as if quite terrified at
their fury, he turned round and endeavored
to fly and if the bars of the cage had not
confined him, would certainly have made
away. Beaten to the end of the cage, he lay
extended in one corner, his great tail hang
ling out through the bars.
5. Nero appeared quite exhausted, and
turned forlorn and despairing look on every
side for assistance. Tine dogs became faint,
and painting, with their tongues out, stood
beside him for few seconds, until cheered
and excited by their keepers voices, they
again commenced the attack, and reused
Nero to exertion. The poor beasts heart
seemed to fail him altogether at this fresh as
sault, and he lay against the side of the stage
totally defenceless, while his foes endeavor-
ed to make an impression on his carcase.
g. Turk turned to the head once more, and
goaded the lion almost to madness, by the
severity of his punishment on the jaws and
nose.
Z. The attack had continued about min
utes, and both lion and dogs were brought to
a stand still; but Turk got his wind in a mo-
ment, and few at his old mark of the jaw,
| which he laid hold of and hung from it, while
Nero roared with anguish.
8. The lion attempted to break away, and
flung himself with desperation against the
bars of the stage-the dogs giving chase,
| darting at his flank and worrying his head,
until all three being almost spent, another
pause took place, and The dogs spared their
victim for an instant. Captain was taken
away lame and apparently much distressed.
They were all bleeding very much having
been torn by the lions claws in his efforts
to paw them off.
9. Turk got under his chest and endeavor-
ed to fix himself on his throat, while Tiger
initiating his ferceness, flew at his head
This joint attack worried the spirit of the
poor lion little; he struck Tiger from him
with severe blow of his paw, and fell upon
Turk with all the weight of his body, and
then grasping his paws upon him, held him
| as in q vice.
TO- Here the innocent nature of poor Nero was
| conspicuous, ana the brutality OF the person who
fought him made it more evident tor the fine ami.
mai having its totally defenceless enemy within the
power OF his paw, did not put it upon him and
| crush his head into mince meat, but lay with his
mouth open, painting for breath, nor could all the
| exertions Mr.. Wombwell, from outside the bars,
direct his fury at the dog who was between his
| feet
IL. Tt now became question what was to be
done, as Tiger crawled away and was taken to his
kennel, and there appeared no chance of the lion
| moving from hig DOsltiOn and fpiiayiuo tb. Othar
| dog. However, after q minutes pause, the lion
opened his hold released the dog, and got upon bis
legs. as 1t he became at ease when freed from the
punishment of his assailants.
| IL Turk, finding himself at liberty, faced the
lion flew at his aud there fastened himself like
| leech, while poor Nero roared again with an
guish. The lion cOntriyed with violent exertion,
shaking and paving, to throw him of, when he was
taken away by the dog keeper grievously mangled.
Thus ended the first combat
In the interval which followed, Wombwell bathed
the lion with cool water, and giving him some to
drink, which he Tapped freely. He seemed to be
in just as good temper az at first and laid down
rubbing his wounded head with his paw like cat.
Second Comsbas.
l. Nero seemed uuprepared for the attack, and
walked about as the three dogs larger than the
firsD were brought forward and pointed and excl
ted at him. The dogs darting at him. be broke
cape from bis pursuers
=. The dogs all heading him, as if by the same
impulse. few at his nose brought him down and
pinned him to the floor. Their united strength be
ing now evidently superior to his he was held fast
several seconds, while the mob shouted with re-
newed delight.
3. Nero, by desperate exertion, cleared himself
at length from their fury and broke away but the
dogs again gave chase flew at his nose and tinned
him, all three together The poor beast, lacA ated
and torn, groaned with pain and heart rendiA an.
guish and few people with something of a I'M IAN
feeling about them called out to Wombwell to I'VE
in tor the lion; but ne was callous to their enrea
| ties and Nero was left to his fate.
.. Poor Nero lay painting on the stage-his no,sh
nose and chaps full of blood, while contest I'd 4
place between Wombwell ard the keeper of kss
dogs, the one refusing ard the other claiming II .
victory. At length, brutality prevailed, and IT.
dogs were slipped again tor finishing u
3: Nero was unable to rise and meet them, aut
suffered himself to be torn and pulled about as theg
pleased, while the dogs, exuting over their prev
mnmoied his carcase as he lay quite powerless and
exhausted Wombwell then seeing that all chance
OF the Hon coming round was HOPELESS, and dread
Ing that the death OF the poor animal must be the
consequence OF further punishment, gave in at last
ana tne handlers OF the dogs laid hold of them bv
me legs, and pulled them by main force awav. on
which another shout Of brutal exultaton was se,
a