The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-23
A EaYENA's REVENGE.
How a TrcacherOus Brute Mutilated
aa Obnoxious Keeper.

On the 18th Of June a desperate
struggle took place in the carnivora
house at the Fair grounds between a
stripeditemale hyena lately purchased,
and large spotted hyena, occupying
with its mate one of the cages. The
fight was bloody one, and the
striped animal received injuries which
caused its death in few hours, des-
pite the brave efforts to rescue it
from its assailant made by Mr.. Win
ners, one Of the keepers at the Fair
grounds. He boldly entered the
cage when the animals were fighting,
and pounded the spotted animal upon
the head with a club until it was
stunned andits victim released. Yes
terday the spotted hyena had its re-
venge.
Since the fight in June, the spotted
hyena with another of the same spe-
cies, have occupied cage in the car
nivora house, between lions cage
and one appropriated to the leopards.
Winners has attended to the animals
as usual, and the hyenas have, since
relieved OF their objectienal striped
associate, seemed as tractable as hy-
enas ever get, which is nothing to
speak of. Yesterday afternoon at
about , o'clock, few people includ-
ing couple of ladies, were gathered
about the carnivora house looking at
the animals, when Winners, the
keeper, CHANGED to pass along be-
tween the railing and the cages. He
is familiar with the animals, and the
ferocious beasts seem to entertain a
sort of friendship for him. AS he
passed along he patted the leopard
on the head, and the beast seemed
rather to like the attention. Then
he came to the hyenas' cage. The
big spotted brute lay close to the
bars, and its mate was little way off.
Winners carelessly, as he passed,
reached out his hand and patted the
hyena as he had the leopard. 1t was
cruel mistake.
The ugly brute, awaiting his OPP
portunity for some months, saw it at
last, and, quick as lightning, caught
the kindly hand in his mouth, sinking
its fangs into it deeply. There was
a frightful struggle. The man sought
to tear his hand away, and at the
same instant, with growl the, other
hyena sprang to the assistance of its
mate. For moment it seemed as
though Winners would have his en-
tire arm drawn through the bars, but
with a supreme effort he wrenched
himself away, cripple. The strong
jaws Of the hyena had not loosened
their grip, and the left portion Of the
right hand was torn away as the man
released himself, the bones and sim
ews parting like threads in the grip of
the ugly brute who drew back yelling
with his bloody mouthful. The la
dies who witnessed the terrible scene
were to be pitied, one ofthem almost
falnting at the time and being i'll
from the effect of the sight even after
getting into a street car. Assistance
was promptly summoned and Win
ncrs was conveyed to physician,
who bound up the mangled stump,
the man suffering excruciating pain
from his injuries. He will, Of course
be crippled by the occurrence. The
men who carried him to a physician
came back pallid as spectres.
Winners has been long engaged as
a keeper of animals, and is under
stood to have been once seriously
hurt by lion in his cage. His
brother, also keepeTat the grounds,
reproachedl him yesterday within care
lessness, saying that one SO expe-
fenced should have known better
than to have trust in a hyena; but
the wounded man did not seem to
consider himself much to be blamed.
The hyenas, after the occurrence Of
yesterday, dashed about like mad
things. They shrieked continually
and the other animals joined in, max
ing the gardens resound for quite a
time with the ugliest of choruses.-
4