The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-29
From the Brandon Miss Republican.
A Menagerie at Large.

Several days ago immense posters
were posted on all the walls in town,
announcing that Reynolds Great Mex
lean gymnasium and menagerie would
exhibit in Forrest on that day. Early
in the morning all the roads leading to
the town were thronged with people of
all ages, sexes, and colors, and by ten
o'clock the whole town was alive with
visitors awaiting the arrival of the me-
nagerie, At L the fine brass baud an
nounced the arrival of the show, and by
Il the canvass was stretched and the
cages of the animals arranged. The
huge elephat hercules-the largest
ever imported into this country-was
chained to stake, and by way
of caution to those entering the
canvass, Mr.. John Aston, his keeper,
stated that he had for several days
manifested disposition Of insubordi-
nation, 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 admoni-
ton, thoughtlessly handed him piece
Of tobacco, which so ergraged him that
he struck him with such violence as to
dislocate his shoulder, although it was
a glancing blow. He plunged with
with such force that he broke his chain,
and although his keeper used every el-
fort to subdue him he was entirely I'M
controllable, and he would strike and
kick at every object near him. By
this time the scene was beyond de-
scription. The vast crowd flew for
life. He flew at his keeper and pur-
sued him from under the canvass. The
Ii o'clock eight train, being behind
time, and not having any freight for
Forest, and the engineer not intending
to stop, came rushing along at the rate
of 20 miles an hour. Wien it had
approached within 200 yards he look
ed up the road and seemed doubly en-
ragged. He Immediately ran toward it
with great speed, and met it with such
shock that he broke one of his tusks
and was Immediately killed. The en-
CINE was detached from the train and
thrown from the track, and Mr.. Whar-
ton, the engineer, having failed to shut
off the steam, it unfortunately ran into
the canvass and smashed the lion S
cage, killing the lioness and releasing
the lior. The lion finding himself un-
injured and at liberty, and being fright
ened by the steam whistle of the en-
CINE, started at full speed down the
Homewood road, roaring terrifcally.
He had gone but a short distance when
he met Mr.. George w. Sheppard, and
gave chase. MIR. Sheppard finding
that he was gaining on him rapidly,
and that he would be overtaken, at
tempted to climb a sapling 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, riding his fine pacing horse,
with his little son behind him, met him
four miles from here AS soon as his
horse saw hin he neighed, when the
lion rushed at him, seized him by the
throat, and threw him upon the ground.
Mr.. Smith with his little son escaped
through the woods, and made their
way to Forrest on foot. While he
was devouring Mr.. Smiths horse, Mr..
James j. Rich, 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..
Rich eluded him by springing from
his wagon, when he mounted and be-
gan to tear open the boxes con aiaing
the chickens and turned them out.
He then seemed to lose sight Of every
thing in his efforts to catch them.
when the excitem ent in town abated,
about twenty mounted men, we'll arm
ed, started in pursuit with all the dogs
belonging in town as we'll as many that
had followed their owners. Mr.. Reyn-
olds the owner of the lion, begged
them not to kill him, and sent several
men with the crowd with instructions
to capture him if possible, but no doubt
the citizens will kill him as soon as
they overtakc him. 1t is reported
that ne killed freedman in Smith
county, and that when last heard from
he was going down to Ocoha. The
news that lion was at large spreads