Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-19
naiIg 3'santbet sournal.
PLAYING WITH LION.


The birmingham Gazette describes an
extraordinary scene which was witnessed
at the Geological Gardens of Mr.. Morris
Roberts BaIsail Heath. recently. The
keeper went into the menageric to put the
lion "through the facings,' for the amuse-
ment of his wife and mother and five other
visitors. As the animal had been in a
snrly humor during the afternoon, the
keeper was requested to forego his deter
mination to enter the cage. In spite.
however, ofthe eDtreaties of his wife and
mother, and the consciousness that it was
close upon feeding time, the animal hav-
ing decidedly angry look-the adven-
turous fellow went into the cage and COM
menccd "playing' with the lion.
The only weapon he had was a long
broom. with which he said he wanted to
sweep out the den. Instead of brushing
the floor. he rubbed the broom three or
four times across the head of the animal,
who speedily eyinced his dislike to the
tantal1zino treatment by uttering low.
stifled roar. In order to show his COM
pIete mastery over the animal, he then
placed his hand on his name and ordered
him to lie down.
i
few seconds, but suddenly resuming his
former posture, the brute asserted ms su,
premacy BY knocking his keeper" head
over he els into the corner OF the cage.
Then. noticing that the man had been
negligent enough to forget to close the
door, the lion made a bolt out OF his den
into the arena. The panic among the linn
tied number of sightseers may be readily
imagined, but fortunately they had all
made sure Of ready exit by taking up
their situations within short distance OF
the doors leading out into the gardens.
As soon as the lion made his appear
ance in the open space every door was
closed, and the keeper was LETT alone IN
company with the ferocious beast. Fully
approaching his hostile attitude the man
wisely decided to shut himself up in the
lions cage, where he surveyed the I'M
pleasant scene in comparative safety. The
CONSERVATION of those who secured an
outside view of the agonizing scene which
was being enacted inside the menagerie
was terrible in the extreme. The wife OF
the imprisoned keeper swooned away,
narrowly escaping falling through the
door into the embraces of the infuriated
brute.
While a consultation was being held as
to future operations, every one was as
founded by the entrance of the keeper.
looking as white as sheet, and in fear
full state of mental perturbation. In re-
ply to the inquiry as to how he managed
to escape. he said he resolved to coax the
animal. He then rubbed the broom gen.
tly across the lions back Tor about ten
minutes, a mode OF proceeding which
seemed to suit the erratic animal i'm
mensely. At length he proceeded to stroke
his name, and endeavored to coax him
into his den, but the lion roared furious
~.
Giving the broom to the lion to chew.
he made rush for the door, and just
managed TO close it ere the beast was up
on him. The question then arose how to
get the brute into his den. The most
awkward feature was that the elephant,
who had only been exercised in the
gardens, was entirely at his mercy, being
tied up in an open cage at the end OF the
menagerie. At length it was proposed
that some meat should be passed along
the roof into the cage, which would prob
ably be the means Of enticing Master Leo
into his old quarters.
1t was found necessary to take Off
large number of states, and the keeper
scrambled along the rafters and dangled
piece of meat into the cage. This had the
desired effect, for the lion seized the
tempting bait with the utmost avidity, and
was quickly occupied in devouring the
fiesh.l Even now the door was open. The
keeper, procuring another tempting NOR.
sci, lowered it into the adjacent den. and
the side being removed. the author of all
the trouble was finally captive.