The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-18
BAssums MEN4eER1E LOOSE
Lions and Tigers Wrecked at Midnight
on q Railroad Trafn-'Fhe Roar OF tho
wild Beasts-aoSy they were Slip
noosed ana Recapt1red.
From the 1,itus7 lille OourIer.1

As The great BarnunI's show was leaving
Erie on Saturday morning, en- route to Cory,
one of the trains drawn by TWO engines was
thrown from the track, and both locomotives
and several cars were precipitated down the
bank, the Two former imbehded In the earth,
while the latter were comple elats received q
lively flPf ssiifHakfIGg up. The lions roared, the
monkeys chartered, parrots screamed, tne
great rhlnoceros snorted and bawled, while
Ihe less feroclous animals, like the giraffe and
eland, shrank trembling into corners, refusing
to recognize the caresses of their keepers.
Acrobats and equestrIans executed feats oil
agility never attempted in the sawdust ring.
some of them going through the car WINDOWS
In their eagerness to escape. Melvin e1ecu.
ted piroueLle on his head, while Lazeile ana
Wilson gave an exhibition of their skill on
the "ayingn trapeze, unequalled for rapidity
in lis execution. Don Castelo thought that
the funniest thing he could say was tnaC
tIabsence of body IL better than presence ot
mind In this case" and he proceeded to give
a practical illustration Of hls Idea, While the
old performers involuntarly gave an e1nlol-
lion of ground and lofty tumbling mot get
down on the bllle." Ben. Lusbie, lhe ''lignt-
ninpn ticket seller, solved problem In sub
traction, with his usual agility, while Summer
Hald, his assistant, made "cnange" With re-
ire.hing rapdlty.
As The accident happened about two o'clock
In Lbe morning, and the night being cloudy
and dark, the confusion that reigned must
BIZ imagined, for 1t cannot be described.
1t was speedily discovered that cage con-
taining two royal Asialic lions was amsng the
wreck, and the terrified performers were not
long In ascertainlng that these Two monaIcls
of the junp,e were loose and unharmed. This
fact added TO the terror OF the scene, and q
stampede for safely Immediately ensned: Fro
fessor CHARLES White, the celebrated lion
| tanner, alone remained undismayeo, ana lm-
medlalely began pertectng arrangements TO
spcnre his nets. d fsGt, as may be supposed,
moi easily accomplished. Providing himself
with an ordinary rawhlde, Professor White
advanced toward the spot where tne TWO un-
leashed brutes stood glancing ieroclousiy about
them, but he had not approached very near 10
them when he was greeted with terrlnc
roar from the mole, which broke tue stliinesS
of the night In awful and startling manner.
| II tsmeanL business" and as the great beast
stood erect lashIng his tawny sides Win
his tall. it was evident that for time at least
he was "monarch of all be surveyed"
The little "kltten" or baby lion partook OF
the general excitement, and mewed piteously.
Al lines The lioness would seize 1t ln her
mouth and look iurlOusly ABOUT, as II upon
| the point of leaplng into the darkness ia
search of safe retreat, and LOT time tnlnee
| looked suually. The lion tanner, however,
/
succeeded In throwing 1t over the head OF tne
male lion, and In few moments ne was Sc
curely fastened to tree. The female, how
ever, with a perverseness peculiar to her sex,
| and perhaps inturiated by the recent 1883 ol
| two of her "klttens," was not 80 tractab'e and
showed fight; but Professor Whites determin,
ed manner soon brought her 10 terms, and
slIp.noosing the younger one, and slowly draw
| Ing it into an empty cage, the mother was 10
duced to follow, and thus were o0th tne zero.
cious beasts secured, and all Immediate danger
from them was over. -,.x.,,
The other animals were captured without
much trouble, aud at about ten O'Clock tne
show arrived OF CORY, where an Immense lei SC
crowd OF people were patiently awaiting theii
comlHg. .,,. -,
one was seriously Injured. nor were any very
valuable animals hurt. Four cars, with tnell
contents, were wrecked aud many animals
let loose bnt it is believed That most OF them
have been recaptured, the lions being the ON!
dangerous ones that were let loose. Great
credit is due to Professor White for bis intre'
pidity, for had he been less determined, seri
ous loss Of life might have occurred through
the fsrocity of the two brutes that had 30 sud,
denly secured their freedom.