The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-04-15

itldii WIO DcIFtVou tiIC AditiOuS ioioiCi.
BY this nice little speculation she
made enough to educate her two little
fatherless children, and then married
4 clever New Yorker. Is not truth
stranger than fiction? b9.s
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Wild Beasts Out For Holi day-The Ele-
plant and the Lion Loose-One Attacks
a LocoIntive and the other the Natives
Hercules on His Muscle.
Correspondence Brandon (Miss ) Republican
t0 laE r FOREST, MISS. March "a, 1869.
Several days previous immense
posters were pasted on all the walls in
town, announcing that Reynolds
Great Mexican Gymnasium and Me-
nagerie would exhibit in Forest on
that day. Early in the morning all
the roads leading to 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 menagerie.
At eleven the fine brass band an
nomced the arrival of the show, and
by twelve the canvass was stretched,
and the cages of the animals arranged.
The huge elephant Hercules-tlle
largest ever imported into this coun-
try-was chainedto the stake; and, by
way of caution to those entering the
canvass, John Alston, his keeper,
sta ted that he had for several days
m manifested spirit of INSTRUMENTATION
and begged that no one would ap-i
proach sufficiently near to receive a
blow from his trunk. Mr.. Mark Kite
from the northern part of this eotinty,
coming in after Mr.. Alston's admoni-
ton, thoughtlessly handed him piece
of tobacco, which so outraged him
that he struck at him with such vio-
lence as to dlslocate his shoulder. al
though It was a glancing blow. He
plunged with such force that he broke
his chain, and although his keeper
used every effort to subdue him. he
was entirely uncomfortable, and he
would strike and kick at every OBJ
ject near him. By this time the crowd
flew for life. He flew at his, keeper
and pursued him under the canvas.
The II o'clock freight 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 twenty miles an
hour. When it had approached with
in 200 yards he looked up the road
and seemed doubly enraged. He inn
mediately ran toward it with great
speed and met it with such shock
that he broke one of his tusks and was
Immediately killed. The engine was
detached from the train and thrown
from the track, and Mr. Wharton, the
engineer, having failed to shut off
steam, it unfortunately run into the
canvas and smashed the lions cage
killing the lioness and releasing the
lion. Lion finding himself uniniured
and at liberty, and being frightened
by the steam and whistle ofthe engine
started at full speed down the Home
wood road roaring. terrifcally He
had gone but short distance when he
met Mr.. George w. Sheppard and
gave chase. Mr.. Sheppard finding
that he would certainly be overtaken,
attempted to climb a sapling. He
struck at him with his paw as he as
cended, but fortunately did no other
damage than. to tear off his coat-tail
and carry away a part ofhis pants. SIS
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
rand his little son escaped to the woods
and made their way to Forest on foot.
\ While he was derouring Mr.. Smiths
horse, Mi" James T. 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,
lashed the ground with his tail, and
sprang at him. Mr.. Ritch eluGed him
| by jumaing from his wagon, when lie
mounted and began to tear open the
boxes containing the chickens and
turned them ont. He then seemed to
lose sight of every thing in his efforts
to catch them. - ''-'
+ When the excitement in town abated
4 about twenty men, well armed, started
| in pursuit with all the dogs belonging
in town as well as many that had fol.
lowed their owners. Mr.. Reynolds
the owner of the lion, begged them
-Enot to kill him, and sent several men
| with the. crowd with, instructions te
capture him ifpossiblc, but no doubt
the citizens will kill him as soon as
| they oyertake him. ;,-,r..su'a IN, =, ....,.
T. 1t is, reported that he killed q, freed
imam in Smith County, near, Mr.
i Thomas lEl Husbands and that when las
heard from be was going down, Is
1 .Ocoha, The news that a lion is a
: large spreads like wildfire,, and th'
citizens are greatly, excited. rsur,a,,.i
Y -lpdf u3i lF9iiIF f0l 17II3TETIs sib' bs1
a daughter of Murat, the famou
King of Naples, is prineipat ef a ,fe