The Portland daily press., 1878-04-23
Full crown Lion ON ,t,e e.m,,.e

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Yesterday morning about CLOCK, while the
attendants at Stanley's 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 had
broken out through the cage and was roaming
about the building at will. He had broken
open the cage at the top and 10 that way had
made his escape. The first thicg to be done
was to secure the cage to keep the lioness from
escaping, and this was no easy matter for sew
eral reasons. The trainer wasabsent and the
men 10 charge were not at all used to handling
the animals. They did their best, however
| and succeeded in 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 enraged bin and he made
| spring at his cage, catching the animal by
the neck and at one jump pulled him from the
cage, taking out two iron bars as though thew
were nothing but straws. With the iackall
once out of the cage there was nothing to save
him, aud for some time the king of the forest
| amused himself by shaking the poor animal as
dog would cat. After some time, which he
spent in biting him, the jackall appeared to be
dead. and the lion took him by the neck aud
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 it was useless to try
and capture the lion the attendants telegraphed
to the trainer at Freeport, telling him the con-
dition of things and asking his immediate
presence. The despatch was received at 10
o'clock, and in an hour and half the trainer
arrived after hard drive behind swift horse
His acquaintance with the lion had been in the
cage entirely, and when he appro achsd hi.n
outside it was entirely another thing. On en-.
tering the building the animal was lying down
in the further corner. As he called him by
name the animal appeared to be perfectly
wild and he rushed past him like flash. At
temps to quiet him were of no avail AMI he
ragged about in furious manner. AT last he
was cornered, as it was supposed, and just as
they were about to lay hold of him he escaped
from the building through narrow PASSAGE
way and was free in the open lot below the
Adams House. The keeper and attendants
followed him and supposed they had him cor
nered again, but the high board fence was no
obstacle to him whatever, and he went over it
with an easy bound. This, the keeper says,
was the prsttest leap he ever saw an animal
make. The fence is about eight feet high, but
he thinks he must have cleared it at least four
feet, making a leap Of twelve feet from the
ground. He was headed off after crossing the
fence and thus kept from entering Exchange
street. He was driven back toward the me-
nagerie qaite easily. as the lioness was calling
him. The keeper drove him up to the corner
of the building next to the sidewalk and there
the keeper gained perfect control over him. At
aword the animal crouched down and the keep
Err jumped upon him, and with chain secured
him. He was then taken back into the build
ing and appeared glad to get back into the
cage with the loness.
The affair drew large crowd to the scene
and Marshal Bridges was prepared to shoot him
it he had gone into the street. The fact that
the lioness did not escape is probably the only
reason that no damage was done. Lions are
very much attached to their mates, and they
will hardly ever run away from them. These
animals will be taken to Philadelphia for ex-
hibition next week. The jackall was so badly
hurt that he will probably die.