Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-03-14
Exciting Scene in a Menagerie In its
Winter Quarters.

A THRILLING scene occurred on
Wednesday in this city. A lion tanner
came within an ace of being torn TO
pieces by royal Bengal tiger with which
he was imprisoned in cage. only pres
ence of mind on his part and bravery on
| the part of another saved him. At
Twentv.second and Nassau streets is the
menagerie of Adam Forepaugh housed
in winter quarters. Among others, he
has two splendid specimens of lions and
two magnificent royal Bengal tigers. On
Christmas day there landed in this city
Il Herr Darious, the European wild-beast
tanner, who came direct from the ZoolOgi-
cal Garden of Hamburg. The trainer at
1 once set about his task in order to have
the animals in perfect submission by the
time the spring opened. He had large
den erected in the south building of solid
white oak, three inches thick with an
open front, interlaced with iron bars
crossing each other at regular intervals.
- one end there is a door, and in the
center there is a swinging partition which
divides the den into two apartments, and
which may be opened or closed at the
trainers will. In this strong den the lions
and tigers were placed, separated by the
partition, except when being trained,
when they are permitted to be together.
Every day since his arrival he has en-
tered this cage, and, armed only with a
whip, has gradually broken down the fe-
rocity of the beasts. Yesterday morning
he prepared as usual to enter the cage.
Once in, he noticed that the tigers seemed
uneasy and restless. They kept out of
his way, skulked in corners, jumped over
each other, showed their teeth, and when
struck gave forth growl that BODIED no
good. The trainer faced it manfully for
while, but seeing that the beasts for
some cause or other were really enraged,
determined to retreat By quick move
ment he sprang backward and shut the
partition door with crash, but not in
time to keep out one of the tigers, with
which he found himself alone. Now
came the terrible moment OF suspense.
The trainer for an instant kept the beast
still in the corner by the power OF his
eye, but happening TO turn his head for a
moment, the tiger, with terrific yell,
launched it's body into the air and came
down upon Herr Darious, bearing him to
the floor of the cage. Those who had
been attracted to the spot stood pal
sled by terror, as they gazed upon the
spectacle of the trainer lying meath the
tigers claws.
Motionless, still as the dead, lay the
trainer, knowing this course to be ms
only hope. The tiger, with one paw upon
the breast of the man, purred Omlnously
and struck the floor with his tail. AS a
cat holds mouse, so was the picture.
But this time it was human lie almost
within the Jaws of wild beast.
Mr.. FOrepaugh saw in an instant what
must be done The head OF the beast was
from him, the long tail swishing TO ana
fro with q cat-like motion. With heroic
bravery, quick as lightning. MI. fore
paugh thrust his arm through the bars,
seized one of the tigers hind legs, and
bracing himself with his foot, lerked II
through the grating. "Quick! for Gods
sake, save Yourself y he shouted, and, as
the tiger turned with yell at the sudden
pain, the trainer leaped to his feet ana es-
capped from the den of death.
During the affair the roar of the beasts
| threw the other animals into the wlides'
excitement. In the upper story cocoon
gnu, or horned horse, one OF MI. fore,
paugh's recent importations, and one OF
the most vicious of all animals, broke
through his cage, and made an immediate
and terrible attack on one OF the ZEBRA
cages containing beautiful and valua
| Bile animal. In less than moment tli'
front was battered down and the poor re
bra lay dying, gored to death Proceed
ing to the den containing the great elahu
the gnu began to battle at the wire-wors
here but, his horns becoming entanglea
he was captured and placed in safe quar-
ters, without doing further damage
Philadelphia Post.
What a strange infatuation it's whici
Induces boy or man to point plstoi
another person in sport! or course u !
believed to be unlOaded, or, il loaded, U