The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-01-31
A Loose Lioness.

PHILADELPHIA, January 23.-Ju-
no, a monster lioness belonging 10
the Inter Ocean Circus, created a
sensation in the winter quarters oi
the show IN Frankford ON Monday
evening. Peter Mareine, an animal
trainer, was frightfully injured by
the enraged beast, and an African
bluebok, one of a pair which cost
$1,000, died from fright during the
pandemonium. In the animal
house Juno occupied a cage IN the
lower tier against the north wall.
Her cubs which now weigh about
fifteen pounds each, are lodged III
the lower tier at the east wall. Thl,
enables Juno to have an unobstruct-
ed view of their cage. Just before
dark on Monday evening Mr.. Mar
vine was feeding the ANIMALS. He
gave the cubs their share OF liver
and paused a moment to tondIe
them. This put Juno in "a frightful
rage and Marvine turned to quiet
her and as he advanced toward the
cage he stumbled ard fell against
the bars. In an instant she seized
his ,ignt arm above the elbow. Ia
order to protect his head and body
the man Tell and with his left hand
grasped the bottom of the cage. Jul
no held his right arm with one paw
and struck through the bars at his
head with the other. A lad by the
name of Donahue grabbed an iron
bar and tried to make juno drop
Marvine's arm. The boys efforts
only increased the rage of the beast.
BY this time every animal in the
place Was wildly excited and their
roars and cries We're heard squares
away To increase the din the AMI
mails of O'Brien's circus in the ad-
loining building added their voIces
to the chorus. Donahue ran out OF
the building shouting for help. As
there is "a small army Of workmen
about the place the lion house was
soon surrounded by men. In the
meantime Juno had torn the flesh
from Marvire's arm, struck hun sew
eral wicked blows on the shoulder
and then allowed him to drop to the
ground and crawl away.
Just as the rescuers reached the
doors they heard the sound of crash
ing timbers, accompanied by Il Sc
ries of blood freezing roars. juno
had thrown her body against the
bars and broken through. The APP
proach of night made the interior of
the buildings dark. and no one cared
to venture in. They heard Juno
around the place and they hesitated.
They supposed that Marvine Was
dead. He, however, managed to
reach the rack in which the heavy
iron bars used to clean the cages are
kept, and snatching one boldly adj
vanced on Juno, who crouched in d
corner. All this time the other an
finals was making a most frightful
noise. Above the din the men at the
doors, 10 their establishment, heard
Marvine ordering The lionees back 10
her cage. This rcassared them and
they started to enter. AS the doors
opened Juno sprang w Maryine's
head and took refuge in a stall near
the blue-bock. Marvine shouted to
close the doors, and following the
now frantically cowed %Iioness, struck
her twice with the iron bar. Then
lac poked her out and with an angry
roar she vauited back into her cage
and the danger Was over New bars
were quickly fitted and the cage was
made doubly secure by the addition
of new iron braces Marvine's in
%juries were attended to 10y "a physi-
who says he will not lose the
use G his arm. After Juno was
Gagged. it was lo6iced that one of the
blue books was trembling axe 9 leaf
and tears tr,okled down the fright
ened beasts face. Fen Ri.nutes later
it was dead.