Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-07-04
OLD SERIES, VOL. %, NO. sc,

dered it let down again until the tanner who
had the cage in charge could be sent for,
In letting it down q Eart of the cage caught
the leg of one Of the whelps, badly jammng
it. Hitherto the ioness had paid no atten.
tion to the men gathered aboSt, but when
the whelp set up cry of pain, the mother
sprang up in anger. This set the whelp tn
uttering most plaintive rosrs, when the
rage of the older beast became terrific. 1t
dashed to the whep, began licking it, and
at the same time uttered those loud roars
which have made it so famous. Becoming en-
ragged at its treatment it da shed to aud fro
in its narrow limits, throwing itself with
full force against the sides of the cage. A
couple of lions in an adjoining apartment
became excited over the scene, and not only
added 70 the confusion by their roars, but
strove to break down the barrier between
the two cages. The scene was one of the
most startling imaginable. All the beasts
in the oapsized cages were yelling and stri-
wing to get out, while those in vans which
had halted near became frightened and were
utterlng tokens CT alarm 10 their peculiar
manner. The horses, too, of all the vans,
eShiblted the utmost terror, requiring the
efforts OF the drivers to look after them.
~, AS soon as word came to the band wagon,
the camels and elephants were urged for.
no sooner had the animals attached to the
wagon come within the sound of the lions
voices, than they exhibited the most blect
lear. The elephant threw up its trunk and
blew terrific hlast-a blast that startled all
even those who had no signs of fear. Its
keeper bravely kept by its side and attempt.
ed to quiet its fears but the massive animal
was thoroughly alarmed. 1t seemed to be
insane, and its yells were full of agopized
fear filed with terror. The camels startled,
some attempted to break from their harness
while Others fell down fiat, all uttering n
peculiar cry. About this time the lion-tamer
! came up. and fastened TO the cage The
beasts had become so excited now thGt tn ey
scarcely noticed him, but made redaubed
efforts to get out into the open air Had
the tanner at this time lacked 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 attendants of the teams to his aid, but
they were scarcely to be blamed when they
did not care to venture too rear. Two or
three of them came and with the assistance
of levers, separated the pieces of the cage so
that the whelp extricated its foot. The
mother, her suspense relieved with the re
lease of the whelp, ceased her yells, and
again commenced licking the wounded foot
The other lions seemed not entirely satisfied,
and rather to enjoy the confusion they were
creating. Reaching through the ventiator.
the tanner struck one of them ms heavy q
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, ceasng their howls, but
keeping mp low, indignant growing, like
dogs. The men came forward and raised
tie wagon to its place, fastening up the
cage where 1t was broken, and the horses
being attached the team drove on.
While this was being done, it seemed as
if the hand team would more than fill the
bill which the lion family had attempted
Although the sound of the lions voices
could no longer be heard, its effect WAS left
on the camels. Their keeper had detached
them from the carriage, and had succeeded
in getting them a few rods away. They
now made no effort to escape, but lay down
painting through fear, and apparently obli.
vious to everything around them. The
monster elephant, also detached, seemed to
he in quandary as to what he should do.
He slasbed his trunk against his side with
a dull but loud "thud," and then raising it
in the air blew blasts upon it, before which
all the trumpets of band were as nothing
But by soothing and coaxing he was at
length quieted, and again attached to the
wagon. The camels were aroused at length
by kicks and blows, and the strange ,ani-
mails moved on. trembling in every joint
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