Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-10-05
lightning Among thh c = Lions ION


- = 49, -fAaA 49,
Assorzssponae oftle Chicago In:
ter-ocean writes ron Davenport,
iV""T saRet h, s7aF aSl Re Ia. a
Adam Torepaush is a famous SHOW
man. but he has never offered tethe !
public so thrilling and extraordinary
an exhibition rs tlrat which am'ght
have been seen ''at q point near Pleas
ant hill about seven miles frem' pa
venport, on Monday morning before
daylight aThe scene wasf that ola
menagerie attacked BY a thunder
storm Of unusual ferocity, inlthe dead
of night. T.E88TB IWCJ72
Mr.. Forepaugh's establishment, con /
sisting of "a. meraserie, museum and
cil Gus, exhibited at Dewitt Iowa, on
Saturday, august Il, and at -midnlg ut ut
started for Davenport, where It was to
exhibit on the 10Th. seAt Pleasant
HIN, small village, it encountered
one of the most terrific storms OF thun'
der, lightning and rain ever e1perien-
ced in this part of the country, ! t
was about two o'clock on Monday
morning when the storm broke upenD
the caravan. There were 175 dens or
cages of wild beasts and birds, q muI
scum equipage, baggage wagons, etc,
drawn by 500 horses and following
the band chariot. This, in turn, was
proceeded by a dozen camels and the
elephant Romeo, Jr. ID ya1t &c, 70 .s1ls1
As the storm increased in fury the
chariot horses became unmanageable,
and started off at fearful speed.
Ther camels, unable to stand, erouclfed
down by the roadside, trembling with
fear, and the eEephantlay down in the
middle of the road and stubbor,hy re-
fused to rise, completely preventing
the further progress: of the long train
of cages, which were scattered along
the road for nearly two miles. ~
THE animals, thoroughly frightened,
mingled their yells and roars with the
deaFening thunder, and bounded from
side to side of their narrow cages with
tremendous force. This caused many
Of the lofsesto follow the example o.
those before the chariot, and as nc
fartIer progress So eeal 4 / be made, tb'
whole train soon became lneXtrlcaoil
confused. To make @ confusi onswors'
confounded,n the driver Of the liol
cage was hurled from his seat by TIN
falling Of his wheel horses, and Owe
went the. cage containing feur large
lions. -'"s - =. II -
The museum wagon, containing tn
sTLord's Supper was struck by light
ming, and four of the Twelve Apostle
laid.low And get the worst had no
: come. The awful fury of the 'storr
7 and tia teErorOf the scene tlemoralize
, about twenty drivers, who had bee
llireda few days previous, and in
host. towardly mariper. they d6sefte
, their horses and fed to the woods
/. One Of these cages left tlfiyerless cor
S tanned gnu or horned horse, a mos
!. vicious. and ns.tapaBie brute, and u
horses, plunging from one side OF til
! road to the other, overturned the Gag
y causing the top to break open. IL
stantly the brute leaped into the roat
J, andr oTertarning cage filed wit
: monkeys, dartetl off ilfto thelyooass
Ii The situation eftl,e caravan at til
r juncture was very critical, as. may
IT readily imagined There was Il
!. pitch-black, darkness Of The contendir
II with the Mrid sglare.of the; lghtnin
b. There was the drenching rain pouril
E down in sheetsA There wasthe almo
s. constant roar Of thunder. The roar
a. enraged lions, the neigh Of frightent
+, horses, ne wall Of ailunslred animal
ut some to be feared others to be pitied
ID all were concentrated. Trees i
y around. Horses dashed hitler al
q thioaer, crashing the vans which tn
to drew and scattering their -conten
nd One of the drivers, who still sremain
u faithful anu courageous, was killed
~ his seat by a shock of lightning. {.
o. wonderthat mems heafts 'qaailed, q
st. that AMONG the, less bold Of them
!, panic and stampede set in, which p
~ y, missed to end witathe total ruin OF
ey ms Vas dodJtressS avefted only
lys tile appearance atthe trent or Colo