The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-04-13
VOL. IX.-NEw SERIES.


aA6i A ROARING LI0NAT LARGE.d,..sl I'd
HE KILLS A 80 900 YAK AND TASTES a
MAN IN AUGUSTA, GA. ..l.- -.s,,..
The Augusta Chronicle and Constitution
alist Of yesterday says that the most intense
excitement prevailed at the mepagsrieo
grounds about 4 o'clock Monday afternoon,
caused by the escape of the large African
lion "Empsror" while being transferred,
from one cage to another. A very large.
crowd Of ladies and. children had been ad-,
mitted to see these ferocious beasts fed,
which on Mondays are always more savage
because they are never fed on Sundays
But in the afternoon there were no visitors
present, and everything being ready the
transfer began, and number had changed
quarters, when the cage for the lion was
backed up to his temporary quarters for his
turn. The door to the temporary affair was
raised, and the lion very quietly walked in.
to his quarters and the door closed but as
the men at the tongue drew the wagon off
tho door of the cago was noticed to gently
open.
Mr.. L. NJ. Hedges was the first to discov-
er this alarming state of things and instan-
tly sprang forward to close it; but it was
too late. Before he could reach it with his
hands the lions head appeared in the open
door and out he sprans. MIR. Henry Bar
mum aud Mr.. Driscoe, the lion feeder, both
met the lion and had narrow escapes. The
lion did not 60 into the streets, but sought
that part of the enclosure farthest from tho
gate, where camel was looped. The lion
walked down to where the camel was lying,
and, taking squint at him, turned to his
right into a dark place where string of
wild cat cages were arranged. But before
he could select the daintiest cat, on his inl-
mediate right, he discovered demure look
ing Tartar yak. No sooner had emperor"
laid eyes on this yak than he bounded over
the enclosure, about eight feet high, and
alighted upon the back Of the neck Of the
yak, burying his huge aapgs deep into the
flesh, crushing it to death.
While this was transpiring, of course the
commotion among the fifty men on the
ground was very great. While the lion lay,
with fangs deeply burtcd iu- tnsae y3kss
his eyes glaring, his tail de6antly whipping
the air, and uttering the most terrible growl,
Mr.. Baker, one Of the circus employees,
rushed in with pitchfork, and, mounting
the top of the enclosure, was preparing to
tackle the lion alone and uuaided. He had
ono of his legs thrown over the inside
The lion saw it and instantly made aspiring,
and seizing it buried his front teeth into the
calf. At this juncture several men had
followed Mr.. Baker in, and seoing his peril
GUS condition, seized him by the arms, head
and shoulders, and by main force drew him
from the lions jaws.
After Mr.. Bakers release the lion went
back to corner Of the pen and sat down.
How to get at him now was the question.
1t was certain death to enter the pen, and
there was not gun or pistol in the crowd.
Quickly taking in the situation, Mr.. w NJ
Simpson, who has been with Mr.. Barnum
twenty years in the show business, procured
rope, and forming "running moose,
climbed to the top of the partition, ,and while
the lion was in his sitting posture, head up
and apparently contemplating the damage
he had just done, Mr.. Simpson lowered the
rope and most dexterously got around the
lions neck. Then throwing the other end
over beam, began to tighten the moose
around the brute's neck. Another rop<
was fixed around his neck, and when all wal
ready, the men below tightencd their rope
and about twenty of them began to ehau
in" while the lion lay breathless Within
He made but feeble resistance, and in fev
moments was safely Gagged, more dead thar
alive. This animal is one of the largest o
It's Kind in the United States, as we'll as tn
most intractable.
The yak was valued at $4,000, and is on
of only four in the United States. 4
number of ladies of the city have heretofor
procured locks Of its hair or wool, 1t bein
very fine and silky. -
The WONDERFUL TELEpHoNE.--Ne
York, April 4.--Professor Bell made a
experiment with his telephone over the A
ilantic and Pacific Telegraph Company wire
between Boston and New York, last nigh