The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-09-04
lightning Among the LIONS
Scene in u MeRagerie.
A CORE pondent of the Oh

A CORE pendent OF the Chicago
Inter- Ocean writes from Davenport,
Iowa:
Adam Forepaugh is famous show
man but he has never offered to the
public 40 thrilling and extraordinary
An exhibition "a that which might
have been seem at point near Pleas
ant Hill, about seven miles from Dav-
enport, on Monday morning before
dwight. The scene was. that OF
mcnagerra attacked by thunder Storm
of unusual terocity in the dead OF night.
Mr. Forepaughs establishment, con-
sisting of a mensgerie, museum and
circus, exhibited at Dewitt, Iowa,
on SATURDAY., August II, and at mid
night started for Davenport, where 1t
was to exhibit on the 10Th. AT Pleas.
ant Hill, small village, it encountered
one of the most terrific storms OF thun.
der, lightning and rain ever experienced
in this part Of the country. 1t was
about . o'clock on Monday moroipg
when the storm broke upon the cara
van. There were Us dens or cages OF
wild beasts and birds. a museum equip
age, baggage wagons, &c, drawn by
500 horses and following the great
chariot. This, in turn, was preceded
hv a dozen camels and the elephant
Romeo, Jr,
As the storm increased in fury the
chariot horses became unmanageahle,
and started off at fearful speed. The
camels, unable to stand. crouched down
by the roadside trembling with tear,
and the elephant lay down in the mid
die OF the road and stuhbornly refused
to rise, completely preventing the fur
Their progress of the long train of cages,
which were scattered along tue road for
nearly two miles.
TERRIBLE SCENE.
The animals, thoroughly frightened
mingled their yelIs and roars with the
deafening thunder, AMI bounded from
81 lie to side Of their narrow cages with
tremendous force. This caused many
of the horses to follow the example OF
those before the chariot, and as no fur
tber progress could be made, the whole
train soon became inextricsbly unused.
To make &C infusion worse ccntounded,
the driver Of The lion cage WAS hurled
from ms seat by the falling of his wheel
horses, and over went the cage contain
ing four large lions.
The museum wagon, confirming the
"Lord's Supper" was struck by light
ming and fonfof the Twelve Apostles
laid low And vet the worst had not
come. The awful fury of the storm
and the terror OF the scene demoralize
about twenty drivers, who had been
hired few days previous, and in a
most cowardlv manner they deserted
their horses aud fled TO the woods. One
of these cages LETT driverIess contained
a gnu or horned horse, a most vicious
and unramahle brute, and the horses,
plunring from one side Of the road to
the other. over urned the cage. causing
the top to break open. Instantly the
brute leaped into the road, and, over :
turning cage filled with monkeys,
darted off into the woods.
TIE SITUATION
Of the caravan at this juncture was
very critical, as MAY he readily i'm
AIMED There WAS the pitch black
darkness OF the night contending with
the lurid glare OF the Lightning. There
was the drenching rain pouring down
in sheets. There was the almost con-
slant roar o. thunder The roar Of en-
IA yed tigers, the neigh OF frightened
horses, the vail o. hundred animals
some to be feared and others TO be
pitied-all were concentrated. Trees
fell around. Horses dashed hither and
thi,her, crashing the vans which they
drew. ard scattering their contents
One of the drivers, who still remained
faithful and courageous, was killed in
his seat by shock OF lightning, Nc
wonder that mems hearts qnailed, and
that among the less bold Of them pan c
and stampede set in, which promised to
end with the total ruin Of the caravan.
This Was doubtless averted only by
the appearance at the front OF Colonel
Forepaush, who had been following
the train, and who had come up Al
rapidly as possible on realizing the
danger of the situation. He ordered
the horses to be detached from the
animal cages and the wagons carrolled
The lion carriage was righted and q
detail seat to recapture the escaped
gnu.
Daylight dswned and the storm
abated Ten horses had been killet
BY lightning; four drivers " re 1yured
seriously and one killed. With the as
sistance Of the farmers in the vicinity
the menagerie people soon put matters
in a nresentahle shane including ever