Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-17
4 LION AND LIONESS ESCA PIE
AND CAUSE THE Widest
CONFUSION

FROM tue Little MOCK lhfh') huAeWts
Last night Argenta witnessed by
the naring torches Of the canvassmen,
the most thrilling scene known to the
history Of the State, Yesterday Coop.
er q Jackson's circus and menagerie
exhibited in Argenta, and last night,
just after the opening of the perform.
ance, the violent wind and rain storm
camo up. In a moment the canvas
was blown down. A cage containing
a large African lion and lionoss was
overturned by tho force OF the wind
A torch, planted near the cage was
thrust between the bars into the cage,
This frightened the animals, and with
terrible roars they shattered the cage
Throwing bars here and there, they
| bounded over the heads Of the excited
people and ran away among the sand
gulches and tall weeds. An indescrib.
able confusion followed Children
gathered around their parents and
shrieked, women flew hither and thith.
er, and strong men, in wilderness Of
fright rarely witnessed, yelled and all
scattered. Fora moment no one knew
whore to turn, but quivering and fright
ened beyond the exercise Of the pres.
ence of mind, all whired in an entan.
clement of human chaos. The lions
did not turn upon the crowd, but, in
astonishment at such freedom, sprang
away and disappeared The excited
people sought their homes and the
circus men, half in fear and half in
anxiety, bearing torches went around,
peeping here and there, searching for
the king and queen of beasts Shortly
after the canvas had been taken down,
Mr. George Bodfsh, clerk of the Adams
House, and Mr.. Billy Winn contor.
zionist of the circus, left the grounds,
en- route for Judge Barna's hotel.
Cropping their way through the tall,
wet weeds, stopping and shuddering
at every thought of meeting the lions,
they proceeded Passing saloon, a
dark object on the sidewalk attracted
the attention Of Mr.. Bodfsh. BILLY"
he exclaimed, "here are the lions"
care you sure Z" ayes, here they are,
he continued, little knowing that no
spoke with such terrible truth. Anoth-
er step and lac would have been upon |
the lion, But that step was not taken.
With roar that Jared the drops Of
water from the tall weeds, the lion |
sprung up, and, followed by the lloness,
turned upon the two men. Bodfsh |
sprang back. The lions stood, with |
glazing eyes, watching them, lashing |
the ground with their tails. The cir. |
cusman seized a chair and held it in
front of him. Bodfsh stepped back,
remarking with GOODNESS that he would |
open the door of the saloon. This he |
failed. The place was crowded with |
revelers, who upon the appearance OF |
the lions had closed the doors, and in
breathess fright, awaited a seemingly |
inevitable doom.
"Open the door," cried Bodfsh, as
he beat against the building.
No answer.
"Let us i'm No answer save the
loud breathing and uneasy movements
of the inmates.
"Billy," said Bodfsb, turning to his
companion, "comc on"
AGO on away" said Billy, who all
this time stood holding out the chair
and looking the lions stcadfastly in
the eyes. at won't do to leave If
| make move they will jump on me
The lions orouched ready for a spring
and lashed the ground with their tails.
"Billy," said Bodfsh, an go around
and open the side door, then we can
both make a dash" He went to the
back door and implored entrance.
"The lions are not here he said,
"open the door, we want to come in"
Some one unbarred the door. Just
then the lions made spring at Billy.
He throwup the chair, wheeled, and,
in manner he cannot describe, reach
cd the side dOorjust as Bodfsh entered.
Remaining in the saloon for few mo-
ments, they came out and joined in the
attempt to capture the beasts. The
cage had been patched up, and a sight
of il and the torches had caused the
lions TO spring. The animals were
finally found crouched near a fence.
The cage door was opened and the men
stationed around with torches, The
lion walked peacefully into the cage,
but tho lioness became excited and ran
away. She went around and entered
u lot surrounded by a picket fence.
rhe cage was backed up against the
pickcts, near where the animal was
crouched. Winn and Bodfsh went up
and began tearing away the pickets,
when, with a roar and spring, the lion.
ess, whose injuries sustained in leap.
ing around seemed to have partially
disabled her, ran toward the men with
torches. The toroh.men threw down
their lights and fed. About balfan-
hour afterwards the lioness was cap
tured The excitement will never be
forgotten in Argenta.