The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-06-26
A Most Exciting Scene.

The Milwaukee Wisconsin, of June 1st,
says that while Bailey & Co.'s menagerie
were being driven along the road to
Watertown, the wagon containing a.
lioness and some whelps upset, the cage
catching and holding one of the whelps.
1t then describes the scene thus:
When the whelp set up cry of pain,
the mother sprang up in anger. This
set the whelp to uttering most plaintive
roars, when the rage of the Oldest beast
became terrific. 1t dashed to the whelp,
began licking it, and at the same time
uttered those loud rosrs which have
made it so famous. Becoming enraged
at its treatment, it dashed to and fro in
its narrow limits, throwing itself with
full force against the sides of the cage.
A couple Of lions in an adjoining apart
ment became excited over the scene, and
not only added to the confusion by their
roars, but strove to break down the
barrier between the two cages. A
gentleman living at Pewaukee, who was
near the cages at the time, says the
scene was one of the most startling
imaginable. All the beasts in the
capsized cage were yelling and striving
to get out, while those in the vans,
which had halted near, became frighten-
ed and were uttering tokens of alarm
in their peculiar manner. The horses
too, of all the vans, exhibited the utmost
alarm, requiring the efforts of the drivers
to look after them. Until some help
arrived, nothing could be done with
the PROSTATE van, and it was left, while
word was sent to the teams to push
forward as rapidly as possible. Mean
while the anxious drivers stood in fear
that every moment the now furious
beasts would break out of their cages.
As soon as word came to the band
wagon, the camels and elephants were
urged forward, and came up on quick
trot But no sooner had the animals
attached to the wagon come within the
sound of the lions voices, than they
exhibited the most sbject fear. The
elephant threw up its trunk and blew a
terrible blast-a blast that startled all,
even those who had before exhibited no
signs of fear. Its keeper brsvely kept
by its side, and attempted to quiet its
fears. but the massive animal was
thoroughly alarmed. 1t seemed to be
insane, and its yells were full ofsgonized
fear, filed with terror. The camels
were startled; some attempted to break |
from their harness, while others fell
down fiat all uttering peculiar cry. |
The band leaped out, and while the
keepers of the band wagon animals
looked after them, it was found that the |
lions must be quieted or there would be |
a scene beyond the control of all. |
About this time, the lion tanner came
up, and hastened to the cage. The
beasts had become so excited now that |
they scarcely noticed him, but made
redoubled efforts to get out into the
open air.
Had the tanner at this time lacked a
courage which seemed akin to utter
recklessness, the beasts would no doubt
have succeeded in making their escape. /
Without fear. he went to the cage and
very soon discovered the cause of the
fury of the mother. He called the at
tendants of the team to his aid, but they /
were scarcely to be blamed, when they
did not care to venture too near. Two
or three of them came, and with the as
sistance of levers separated the pieces of
the cage SO that the whelp extricated its
foot. The mother, her suspense re- |
lieyed with the release of the whelp, |
ceased her yells and again eommencedi
licking the wounded foot. The other 4
lions seemed not altogether satisfied, /
and rather to enjoy the confusion they /
were creating. Reaching through the
yentilator the tanner struck one of them
as heavy blow as he could with short
iron bar, which seemed to send some
reason into his head, and when the
order came for him to move, he and
his companion went into their own
apartment, ceasing their howls, but
keeping up low, indignant growing
like dogs. Observing this the men
came forward and raised the wagon 10
its place, fastening up the cage where it {
was broken, and the horses being attach
ed the team drove on.