The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-04-09
A MENAGERIE LOOSE IN MISSISSIPPI

FoREsT, MISS, March 24.-Several
days previous immense posters were
posted on all the walls in town, an
noIincing that Reynolds Great Mexi-
can Gymnasium and Menagirie would
exhibit III Forest on that. day. Early
in the morning on that day all the roads
leading TO town was thronged with
people Of all agss, sexes and colors.
and by ten O'clock the whole town was
alive with visitors awaiting the arrival
OF the managerie. At eleven the fine
brass band announced the arrival of
the show. and by twelve the canvess
was stretched and the cages of the ami
mails arranged.
The huge elephant Hercules-the lar
gest ever imported to this country
WAS chained TO stake, md by way of
caution to those entering the canvass,
Mr.. J ohm Aston his keeper, stated that
he had for several days manifested q
disposition OF lnsuordination, ald beg
ged that no one would go sutticien tly
near to receive blow from his trunk.
Mr. Marx Kite from the northern part
of this county came in after Mr.. Al
st0n's adni0niti0n, th0ughtlessly hand
ed him a piece of tobacco, which so an
| ragged him that he struck at hita with
such violence as to dislocate his shout
der, although it was a glancing blow.
He plunged with such force that he
broke his chain, and although his keep
er used every effort to subdlie him, he
| WAS entirely uncomfortable, and he
| would strike and Kick at every object
near him. By this time the scene was
| beyond description. The vast crowd
ned for life. He flew at his keeper and
pursued him from under the canvass.
TIE eleven O'Clock train being be-
hind time, and not having any tr, light
| for Forest, and the engineer not inten-
ding to stop came issiiing along at the
| speed OF twenty miles an hour. When
it had approached within two hundred
yards ne looked up the road, and seem
| ed doubly enraged. He immediately
ran toward it with great speed, and he
met it with such 4 great shock that he
broke one of his tusks and was immedi-
ateiy killed. The engine was detached
from the train and thrown from the
track, and Mr.. Wharton the engineer
having failed to shut OF steam, it unfor-
| ttnately ran into the canvass and
smashed the lions cage, killing the H.
Oness, and releasing the lion. The Ii.
on finding himself uninjured and al
| liberty, aud being frightened by tht
steam and whistle of the engine, start.
ed at full speed down the Homewari
road, roaring territically. He had gon,
but short distance when he met MIR
George Shepherd and gave chase. Mr.
Shehcrd finding that he was gaining
on hlm rapidly, and that he would bt
certainly oyertaken, attempted to clint
q sapling. He struck at him with hi.
paw as he assembled, but fortunately
did no other damage than TO carry away
his coat tail andto tear a part of hi'
pants. ST. El# z.t#.f
Mr.. John Smith, OF Raleigh, who wa,
on his-say to Forest, riding his fine pac-
ing horse with his little son behind him
met HIM four miles from here. As soor
as his horse saw him he Weighed, wher
the lion rushed at him and seized hin
BY the throat and threw him upon The
groand. Mr.. Smith and his listle sol
escaped TO the woods and made his way
10 Forest on foot. -
While he was devouring Mr.. Smith.
horse, Mr.. j. j. Ritch, who WAS on hii
way to Forest, with load of chickens
drove up. As soon as he saw him III
reared on his bind feet and dashed ths
ground with his tail and sprang at hin
Mr.. Ritch evaded him by jumping from
his wagon, when he mounted and be-
gan tearing open the boxes conta ming
the chickens aud turned them ont. II,
then seemed TO lose sight of everything
in his efforts to catch them.
When the excitement in town abatet
about twenty mounted men, well arm.
ed started in pursuit, with al. the dog
belonging in town besides as many as
had followed their owners. Mr.. Rey
nolds the owner of the lion, begged
them no: to kill him, and sent severa
men with instructions to capture him i
possible; but no doubt the citizens
will kill him AS soon as they oyertaks
him.
1t is reported that he killed freed
man in Smith county, near Mr.. Thorn
rs Husbands, and that " hen last hear,
from he was going down Ocoha. The
news that lion is at large spreads liK,
wild-tire, and the citizens are greatly
excited. Bran. Republican