The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-03-22
SCENE IN A MENAGERIE.
Struggle with a Panther Which Had
Just Tasted Blood.

The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and Ssnti-
mel, says: Yesterday, the feeding at the
winter quarters of the circus and menagerie,
took place about II o'clock A. NJ, and as
usual attracted a number of spectators
The beef was distributed to the animals by |
the assistant keeper. In going the rounds
he finally reached the cage of the Texas |
panthers. Apparently ravenous with hun
ger, these creatures jumped wildly from
side to side of the cage, which shook fear
fully under the tremendous bounds. Plac-
ing the tray with the meat on the ground
in front of the cage, the keeper stuck his
pitchfork into a large piece of meat and
pushed il between two of the bars. One of
the panthers instantly grasped the beef
with teeth and claws and pulled with all
his might upon it. The piece was rather
larger thar usual, or it got crosswise the
bars. The panther pulled hard, growing
tiercely the while, and the meat gradually
squeezed into the cage. But the tremend
GUS strain had been too much for one of the
bars. A spectator saw the bar suddenly
start from its socket al the bottom of the
cage and bend lnwards in such manner
that the panther could force its way out
In a moment he called to the keeper,
look out, the panther is about to get out"
/ the keeper, however, who was busily en-
gagged, did not hear him, and in an instant
almost the panther forced It's way out,
jumped on the ground beside the keeper,
and grasped piece of meat.
A wild scene of terror and confusion i'm
mediately ensued. Women and children
screamed and ran in every direction, strong
men turned pale, and the animals in the
cage looked on in wonderment. AS soon
as the panther touched the ground the
keeper realized the situation, and with ad-
mirable presence of mind and cool bravery
threw himself upon the back of the ami
NAL, put his hands around its throat and
endeavozed to choke it into submission
But the ferocious beast was not 10 be SO
: easily subdued. Turning over, it engaged
in fierce tussle with the man. By liber.
al use of teeth and claws it finally COMPEL.
ed the keeper to release it, and it then
started for the opposite side of the she'd
The keeper, who had sprung to his feet
, followed quickly and grasped the animal
by the tail before it had proceeded many
steps. The panther surprised by this nove
!, method of attack, dashed through the
shrinking crowd of people in the inclosure
scattering them right and left. The keeper
held on manfully to the beasts caudal ap
pendage, notwithstanding its struggles tc
get loose, until it ran under wagon, whe1
he was compelled to let go. Almost i'm
-, media.ely, however, the animal came ou
' again and was once more tackled by the
keeper.
A second time the panther rushed
through the crowd, making no attempt te
molest any one, being too closely pressed
by the keeper, who clung to his tail with q
firm grip. This time the panther ran ou
D into the yard next to Ellis street, in the
' rear of the shed where the cages are kept
q dragging the keeper over the ground after
it. The now furious beast proceeded rapi
dly to the end Of the yard and tried tc
:, climb tree close to the brick wall. In this
. attempt, however, it was failed by the
! keeper, who held on tenaciously to its tail
By this time the chief keeper of the ami
mails, who had been endeavoring to cap
ture the truant, managed to get rope
: around it's neck and thus choke it into su b.
:, lection. 1t was then dragged to the cage
which was quickly made secure after the
. panther's escape, and preparations made tc
4 restore it TO its old home. The other foul
: panthers, after persistent efforts by the at
r tendants, in the way of beating and punch
ing, were made to go into the end of th'
cage farthest from the door. They wer
then barricaded at that end by placing
:, boards through the bars. This done, tn
d door was opened and the captured panthe
6 thrust into the cage. After it was put in i
u resisted for some time all efforts to remov
o the ropes which bound it, and it was no
e until it was choked nearly to death tha
" this could be accomplished.