The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-04-07
Miscellany.
A Menagerie ON a spree.

While menagerie was exhibiting at For
est Mississippi, short time ago several I'M
fortunate events occurred which are particu-
larly described in the following narrative:
TIE huge elephant Hercules-the largest
ever imported 10 this country-was chained
to stake; and, by way OF caution to those
entering the canvas, John Aston, his keeper,
stated that he had for several days manifested
a disposition of INSTRUMENTATION, and begged
that no one would approach sufficiently near
TO receive blow from his trunk. Mr.. Mark
Kite, from the northern part OF this county,
coming in after Mr.. Alston's admonition,
thoughtlessly handed him piece OF tobacco
which so enraged him that he struck at him
with such violence as to disloeaLe his Shout
der, although il was glancng blow. He
plunged with such force that he broke his
chain, and although his keeper used every eff
/. fort TO subdue HIM, he was entirely unc0n-
trollable, and he would strike and kick at ey-
cry object near him. By this time the scene
was beyond description. The vast crowd fled
for life He few at his keeper and pursued
him under the canvas.
The II o'clock freight train being behind
time, and not having any lreightfor Forrest,
and the engineer not intending to stop, came
pushing along at the rate OF twenty miles an
hour When i. had approached within 200
yards he looked up the road and seemed
doubly enraeed. He Immediately ran toward
1t with great speed and met it with such a
shock that he broke one of his tusks and
was Immediately killed. The engine was de-
tached from the train and thrown from the
track, and Mr.. Wharton, the engineer, hav-
ing failed to shut off steam, it unfortunately
ran into the canvas and smashed the lions
cage, killing the lioness and releasing the
lion. The lion finding himself unnjured and
at liberty, and being frightened by the steam,
and whistle OF the engine, started at tull
speed down the Homewood road, roaring ter
riHcalIy.
lie bad gone but short time when he met
George W. Sheppard and gave chase. Dir
Sheppard finding that he was gaining on him
rapidly, and that he would certainly be over
taken, attempted to climb sapIing. He
struck at him with his paw as he assembled,
but fortunately did no other damage than to
tear off his coat tail and carry away part
of his pants.
Mr.. John Smith, of Raleigh, who was on
his way to Forest, riding his fine pacing
horse, with his little son behind him, met
him four miles from here. As soon as his
horse saw him he neighed, when the lion
rushed at him, seized him by the throat and
threw him to the ground, Mr.. Smith with
bis little son escaped 10 the woods and made
their way to Forest on foot
While he was deyouring Mr.. Smiths horse,
Mr.. James j. Ritch. who was on his way to
Forest with load OF chickens, drove up. AS
soon as he saw him he reared on his hind
feet, dashed the ground with his tail, and
sprang at him. Mr.. Ritch eluded him by
jumping from his wagon, when he mounted
and began to tear open the boxes containing
the chickens and turned them out. He then
seemed to lose sight OF everything in his eff
forts 10 catch them.
It Is reported that he killed a freedman in
Smith county, near Mr.. Thomas Husbands
and that when last heard from be was going
down Ocona. The news that a lion is al
large spreads like wild fire, and the citizens
are greatly excited.