The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-15
SCENE IN A MENAGERIE,
Struggle with Panther which had Just Tast-
ed Blood.

| ed Blood.
| The Augusta (Ga. Unroniele aud Sem
| tinel, February 70, says: Yesterday the
| feeding at the winter quarters Of the
circus and menagerie took place about
II O'Clock A. NJ, aud as usual attracted
IA number of spectators. The beef was
distributed to the animals by the assis-
tant keeper. In going the rounds he
finally reached the cage OF the Texan
pantherS. Apparently rayenous with
hunger, these fierce creatures jumped
wildly from side to side of the cage,
which shook tearfully under the tre-
mendous bounds. Placing the tray with
the meat on the ground, in front Of the
| cage the keeper stuck his pitchfork into
a large piece OF meat aud pushed IL be-
tween two of the bars.
| One of the panJhers instantly grasped
the beef with teeth and claws, and pulled
| with all his might upon it. The piece
was rather larger than usual, or. it got
crosswise the bars. The panther pulled
hard, growing fercely the while, and
the meat gradually squeezed into the
cage. But The tremendous strain had
been TOO much for one of the bars. A
spectator saw the bar suddenly start
from its socket at the bottom of the
cage and bend inward in such "A manner
that the panther could force its way out.
| In moment he called to the keeper,
"Look out, that panther is about to get
OUT" Tue keeper, however, who was
busily engaged, did not hear him., and
in an instant almost The panther forced
its way out, jumped on the ground be-
side the keeper, and grasped piece of
| meat.
A wild scene of terror and confusion
Immediately ensued. Women and chill
1 Il Il
| ton, strong men turned pale and the
animals in the cages looked Ga in won-
derment. AS soon as the panther
touched the ground the keeper realized
| The situation, and with admirable pres
| ence Of mind and cool bravery threw
himself upon the back of the animal, put
| mis- hands around It's throat aud endeaT-
ored to choke it into subjection. BuJ
| the fer0cious beast was not to be so
easily subdued. Turning over, it en-
gagged In a fierce tussle with the
man. BY liberal use OF teeth and claws
1t finally compelled the keeper TO re-
lease it, and tnen started tor the oppo-
site side OF the shed. The keeper, VINO
had sprung to his feet, followed quickly
and grasped the animal by the TAIL be-
| tore 1t had proceeded many steps. The
panther, surprised by this novel meth cd
crowd Of people In the inclOsure, scat
tering them right and lett. The keeper
held on maniully to the beasts caudal
appendage, Notwithstanding its sLrug-
| giles to get loose, until it ran under u
| wagon, wnen he vas compelled to let go.
Almost immediately, how ever, the ami
mai came out again, and was once more
| tackled by the keeper.
A second time the panther rushed
through the crowd, making no attempt
to molest any ene, being too closely
pressed by the keeper, who clung to his
tail with firm grip. This time the
panther ran out into the yard next to
Ellis street, in the rear of the shed
where the cages are kept, dragging the
keeper over the ground after 1t. The
now furious beast proceeded rapidly to
the end OF the yard and tried to climb a
tree close TO the brick wall. In this al
| tempt, however, it was 10 led by the
keeper, VINO held on tenaclously to It's
| tail. BY this time the chief keeper OF
| the animal, who had been eudeayOring
to capture the truant, manged to get
a rope around its neck and thu 5
| choke 1T into subj9ction. IL was the n
dragged to the cage, which was gu ckIy
| maze secure after the panther's escape,
and preparations made TO restore 1t to
It's Old nome. The other four panthers,
after persistent eff rts by the attsnd-
ants, in the way OF beating and puncu-
ing, were male 60 into the end vi til e
| cage farthesL from the door. They wer G
then narricaded at tnat end by placin =
| boards through the bars. Tnis done
the door was opened and the ca ptured
panther thrust into the cage. After il
Was puC Ill II resisted for some time a
| efforts ED rEmOVn The rODHE SVuinn han n "A