Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-24
Full Grown Lion on the Rampage.

The Press has the following vivid description OF
the antics of the escaped lion in Portland
Monday morning about o'clock, while the At
PENDANTS at the menagerie on Temple street were
at breakfast loud noise was heard among the
animals and on going out to ascertain the cause
it was found that the large lion bad broken out
thfou Oh the cage and was roaming about the
building al will. He had broken open the cage at
he top, and in that way had made his escape. The
first thing to be done was to secure the cage to
keep the loness from escaping, and this was no
easy matter tor several reasons. The trainer was
absent and the men IN charge were not at all used
to handling the animals hey did their best. how
ever, and succeeded 10 keeping the lion away from
the cage until it could be fastened up. In the
meantime he employed his time with other cages.
The jackall entaged HIN and be made spring at
b cage, cat hing the animal by the neck and at
one lump pulled him from the cage, taking out
two IRON bars as though they were nothing but
,traws. With the jackall once out OF the cage
there was nothing to save him. and for some time
the king Of the forest amused himself by shaking
the poor animal a. dog would cat. After some
time, which he spent in biting him, the jackal sp
peared to be dead. and the lion took him by the
neck and attempted TO take him into the cage for
lunch for himself and mate. This he was unable
TO do As the hole through which he escaped had
been closed up. Finding 1t was useless to try and
capture the lion, the attendants telegraphed to the
trainer at FIeepoit, telling him the condition OF
things and asking his immediate presence. 10 an
hour and a half the trainer arrived after a hard
drive behind a swift horse. His acquaintance with
the lion had been in the cage entirely, and when
he approached him outside it was entirely another
thing. On entering the building the animal was
living down in the further corner. As he called
him BY name the animal appeared to be perfectly
Wild and he rushed past him like a flash. At
tempts to quiet him were OF no avail and he ragged
about in a furious manner. At ltst he was
nered, a. it was supposed, and just a they were
about to lay hold OF him he escaped from the
building through a narrow passage-way, and was
tree IN the open lot below the Adams House. The
keeper aud attendants followed him and supposed
they had him cornered again, but the high board
fence was no obstacle to him whatever. and be
went over il with an easy bound. This the keep
er says, the prettiest leap he ever saw an an
msl make. The fence is about eight feet high,
but he thinks he must have cleared II at least four
feet, making leap of twelve feet from the ground.
He was headed of after crossing the fence and
driven back towards the menagerie quite easily,
As the loness was calling him. The keeper drove
him up to the corner of the building next to the
sidewalk aud there the keeper gained perfect con-
troll over him. At word the animal crouched
down and the keeper jumped upon him, and with
a Chain secured him He then taken back
into the building and appeared glad to get back
into the cage with the lioness The Jscsall will
die