The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-17

FRESH TKACkS Observation-Disclosures "h'''
AUTHENTICATED FACTs-A LADY CONFRONT
EDDY THE BEAST IN AN OPEN ERoAD-ATTEhPF
TO BREAK IN A HOUSE. s..
So many unsatisfactory accounts OF the
Hanover lion having reached Richmond,
some alarming the public mind. others pro-
yoking the sneers OF the overWise, ana
others still arousing the belief that the whole
story was but the "sell" OF cross-ronds'
wag, representative OF TINS paper accom-.
panied by distinguished gentleman OF
scientific reputation, Yesterday started forth
into the rural districts, resolved to gee the
animal or his tracks, or to know the reason
why. The latest information they could
get was that the so-called lioness had been
seen on Mr.. j. V. Darricotts farm, on the
Brook turnpike, about five miles from tue
city. In that direction, behind two last
horses, they proceeded.
At the toll-gate, near Mr.. Stewards, tue
Young gentleman who came out to collect
the tolls was hurriedly interviewed.
Have you seen anything OF lion in these
parts1
Haven't seen him myself. but at Mr. Dar-
ricott's they have seen him, or his tracks,
was the prompt response.
At this juncture one OF the ableSt and
best of the ycungisll members Of the Rich
mond bar came driving up, and being told
that his friends, the reporter and the sclen-
tist. were on lion-hunt, with lawyer-like
propensity he began to doubt the existence
Of the beast.
The reporter mildly rentured to suggest
that he could see no constitutional reason
why lion should not be seen in this par
ticuIar section of the country.
"Oh, pshaw, don't believe it, said the
barrisser. ITS a hoax"
."Oh, sir, l tell you tits So" replied the
toll-keeper. "'Twas in the papers to-day"
The toll-kccper thought that was set
tier.
But the lawyer, with a waive of his whip
ed, DO you believe everything you see
in the papcrS?" and, scarcely waiting for
an answer. off he drove.
And on the hunters went until they got
to Mr.. \ BRAN Warwick's. Mr.. Warwick was
at home, and had seen the tracks. He kindly
conducted the Richmond party TO Mr.. Dar-
ricott's newly-ploughed field, where for over
q hundred yards the footprints of the beast
were to be plainly seen. They were about
four inches broad, and probably five inches
long. There, deep in the fresh, soft earth,
were the prints OF the ball of the foot and
OF the four round, stubby toes. The stride
OF the animal was exactly two feet by
measurement, and the tracks on the right
and those on the left were about fifteen
inches apart. There were plenty OF these
tracks. Mr.. Warwick said (and so did Mr..
Darrcott afterward>) that he was sure they
were not made by any animal common IN
this portion OF the country. What they
were he would not undertake to say.
From the field to Mr.. Darrcotts house Is
| only about quarter OF mile. There the
party saw Mr.. Darricott and his lady. Mrs.
Darricott said that Tuesday morning while
walking down the road (Which leads to
Shady Grove church) with her husbands
pointer by her side, the dog darted off and
soon returned to her shivcring with fear.
About the same time, right straight before
her in the road, but probably hundred
Yards distant, she saw strange and fero-
clous beaet. From her description it must
have been three or four feet in height; but
she declares that she was so frightened that
she is unable to say whether it looked most
| like lion. tiger, or bear, but her impress
sion is that it was OF dark color. She got
back to the house as quick as possible. AT
the time OF this occurrence neither
Mr.. Darricott or his wife had seen
the newspapers or heard OF the ap-
pearance of the so-callcd lion near Atlee's
So much for the lion on Tuesday.
Yesterday morning between the hours oi
- and O'Clock the beast visited the premi.
ses of Mrs. George Il. Tompkins, near Sta
ples's mill in Hanover, three or four miles
northwest Of the city, and tried to get into
the parlor. He smashed window-sash
and left some OF his blood on the broken
glass, but did not succeed in his attempted
entrance Until late hour the night be-
| fore there had been piano-playing in the
room.
Mr.. E. G.. Blair, very reliable young
gentleman. is authority for this statement.
lie was cross-questioned by our reporter :
Did YOU see any tracks on the ground
near the pIrlor-window?
Yes, indeed, did.
Did they look like the tracks of any ami
NAL, wild or domestic, known in this part
of the State!
That they didn't.
What was the size?
Well, about four inches across the spread.
This exploit OF the animal would seem to
indicate that he is bear. A lion would
hardly 90 fumbling into a parlor-window.
And Mrs. Darrlcott says that at one time
she thought the object in the road was a
drunken man walking on his hands and
feet. That is something like the slouchy
movement OF bear.
But, then, is 4 bears track nearly round ?
Dr.. John f. Friend is Of opinion that the
supposed lion is catamount (North Amcri-
can tieer). He shot at it last Wednesday.
A -, n1-n