The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-03
A Menagerie Loose.
LIONS AND TIGERS WRECKED AT NIGHT
ON A RAILROAD TRAIN.

| - %>-hAiaoab tRAlN.
AS the great Barnum's show was
leaving Erie on Saturday morning en-
route to Cory, one of the trains drawn
ny TWO engines was thrown from the
track, and both locomotives and se,e.
RAJ cars were precipitated down the
oahk, the two former imbedded in the
earth, while the latter were completely
wrecked, and the entire train and its
contents received lively shaking up.
ne mons roored, the monkeys chatter
eu' parrots screamed, the great rhiDo-
cefos snorted ond bawled, while the
Tess ieroclous animals, like the giraffe
ana Gland, shrank trembling into cor
eheTs, refusing to recognize the caresses
OF their Keepers.
Acrobats and cquestrians executed
feats OF agility never attempted in the
saWdust ring, some of them coinp
through the car windows in their en-
gerness to escape. Melville executed
a p'rouette on his head, while Lazelle
ana Wilson gave an exhibition of their
skill on the flying" trapeze, UNEQUAL
ed for rapidity in its execution. Dan
CASTILLO thought that the funniest
thing he could say was that "absence
4 OF body was better than presence of
mind in this case" and he proceeded
to give practical illustration of his
idea, while the old performers involun-
tarily gave an exhibition of ground
and lofty tumbling not set down on
the bills.
Ben Lusbie, the "lightning" ticket
seller, solved a problem in subtraction
with his usual agility, while Summer
field, his assistant, made change" with
refreshing rapidity,
AS the accident happened about 2
O'Clock III the mornipg, and the night
being cloudy and dark, the confusion
that reigned must be imagined, tor it
cannot be described.
1t was speedily discovered that a
cage containing two royal As;atic lions
was among the wreck, aud the terrified
performers were not long in ascertain
ing that these two nonarchs of the
jungle were loose and unlarmed.-
This fact added to the terror of the
scene, and stampede for safety imme-
diately ensucd. Prof. Charles White,
the celebrated lion tanner, alone re-
manned undismayed, and Immediately
began perfccting arrangements to Sc
cure his pets, feat, as may be sup
posed, not easily accomplished.
Providing himself with an ordinary
rawhide, Professor White advanced
toward the spot where the two un-
leashed brutes stood glancing ferocious-
ly about them. but he had not APP
preached very near to them when he
was greeted with terrific roar from
the male: which broke the stiffness of
the night in an awful and startling
manner. 1t "meant business" and as
the great beast stood erect flashing his
tawny sides with his tail, it was evil
dent that for time at least he was
''monareh of all he surveyed"
The little "kitten" or baby lion
partook of the general excitement,
and mewed piteously. At times the
lIoness would seize it in her mouth and
look furiously about, as if upon the
point of leapins into the darkness in
search of a safe retreat, and for time
things looked squally. The lion tanner,
however, was at work, and procuring
a stout rope he succeeded in throwing
it over the head of the male lion, and |
in few moments he was securely |
fastened to tree. The female, how
ever, with q perversenees peculiar to
her sex, and perhaps Infatuated by the
recent loss of two of her "kittens,"
was not so tractible, and showed fight,
b u Professor Whites determined !
manner soon brought her to terms, and
slip-noosing the younger one and
slowly drawing it into an empty cage,
the mother was induced to follow, and
thus were both the ferocious beasts
secured, and all immediate danger
from them was over.
T h other animals were captured
without much trouble, and at about
10 o'clock the show arrived at Cory,
where an immense crowd of people
were awaiting their coming.
1t is at once singular and fortunate
that no one was seriously injured, nor
were any very valuable animals hurt.
Four cars, with their contents, were
wrecked, and many animals let loose,
but it is believed that most of them
have been recaptured, the lions being
the only dangerous ones let loose.
Great credit is due to Prof. White for
his intrep!dity, for had he been less
determined serious loss of life might
have occurred through the ferocity of
the two brutes shat had SO suddenly
secured their freedom.