The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-24
Lion Killers. 2
Arrival of Pair of Pecu lar Monkeys at
Philadelphia.

Two monkeys of the lion-killer species,
with tempers so fierce and teeth SO sharp
that no one has yet summoned the courage
to approach them within reaching distance,
were received from Europe recently BY J. B.
Doris, the circus man, of Philadelphia. The
newcomers manifested their peculiar dis
tinction as being the only animal which pos
sesses the pluck to attack the monarch of
the forest the moment they entered the sta
bic. They were confined in a cage which
contained strong wooden partition COM
pletely separating them. They were placed
on the floor within five feet of Juno and
Monarch, two fierce and intractabe lions.
who succeed indifferently well in living in
the same compartment. No sooner had they
discovered the proximity of their natural
enemies than they elevated themselves upon
their headquarters and gave vent to terrific.
semi-human cries. Juno, Monarch and three
other lions seemed to recognize the cries iu
an instant. They rose from their recumbent
pastures, and listened intently with attentive
expressions of face. Having apparently sat
lsfed themselves that the sounds proceeded
from the lion killers, they emitted loud
roars, and, lashing their sides fiercely with
their narrow cages. The cries of the mon
keys and The defiant responses of the lions
reused the Bengal tiger, who added his
sharp snarls to the already noisy chorus.
which only subsidized when the monkeys got
to lighting each other and the lions became
tired The war between the monkeys was
caused by an attendant who threw some
bread to one. The other Immediately be-
came jealous, and, rushing against the thick
nartltiOn hQ rpqPhQd his rfuht sof l.
| partners cage and gave him vicious dig.
| Monkey No. was taken unawares, but
| turned with movement as quick as light
| ming and whacked his assailant unmerciful-
| ly. Then the two dug at each other fierce
| ly, twining their muscular fingers in each
| others hair, cudgelliDg their noses with
the precision and force of skilled slug
| gers, and swapping violently at each others
hands. The battle was brought to a close
| by Lion-tamer Peter Bush. who reduced the
belligerents to subsection by whack with
| light stick. The beasts are about four feet
| high and bear some resemblance to the go
rllla. Their roses are slightly longer and
their expressions more intelligent. They
have hair of the silver fox color, which ex-
tends only from the head to the shoulders.
The beasts are specially noted for their agil-
ity and powerful strength. They are natives
OF Africa, and abound in large numbers in
the neighborhood of the Nile. They enter.
tain the most inexplicable hatred toward Ii
ons. Their mode of attack is to spring upon
the lions back, dig their long hind claws in
their skin and beat them with club When
number of them make an attack, the on
slaught usually results fatally to the strong
er animal. The lion killer is very skilful in
the art of throwing. He can fling an object
with remarkable precision and force. This
ability was demonstrated with almost dam
gerous effect. A Ratchet was leftlyng near
one of the beasts, who picked it up, and, al
though confined in cage, threw it at Bush,
the lion-tamer, who presdes over the collec-
tion. The Ratchet missed the object of it's
direction by foot.