Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-12

| u lSTTluC upuU OcLWSCn luC C'Sfbetbt
Bolivar and an untamed Nuban lion named
Prince occurred at the winter quarters Of a
| circus at Lehigh avenue and Edgemont
street, Philadelphia, Monday afternoon,
which resulted in the death of the latter
/; The lion only arrived from abroad II few
| weeks ago, and was worth $4,000. He WAS
placed in an unusually strong cage IN the
animal house, and the training began. The
| beast was too ferocous in disposition TO per-
NIT of the entrance of the trainer into tho
cage until it had been sufficiently subdued
| with the prod and lash.
On Monday, however, the trainer unlock
ed the door for the fist time and entered.
| For few minutes all went well. At last
he struck the lion with his whip and the
enrage6 beast raised his powerful paw and
struck at him. The man jumped aside and
perhaps escaped disembowelment, but sus
tained fearful laceration of the thigh and
leg. Then the lion prepared to spring at
him, and the trainer jumped backward with
such force as 10 break the bars of the cage
from their fasteninga. He fell out backward
on the ground and for a moment was
stunned. This proved to be a fortunate ac-
cident, for the lion bounded through the
open cage door, and, alghting consider
able distance beyond where the man lay,
did not turn back, but rushed out of the
building.
He pursued his way through the ring barn
and entered the open door Of the elephant
house. Bolivar stood nodding where he was
chained to stake near the door. Prince
hesitated for moment, and then lay back
on his launches. He crept slowly forward
until he was within reach of the elephant.
I'M L.. ctri hn
supine trunk. The tough skin was some.
what torn, and the elephant became in
stantly fully awake, and, raising his trunk,
made blow at the lion; but the latter
escaped it by springing backward.
Prince crouched again and prepared to
spring. Quick as lightning flash was the
movement which landed him on the ele-
phant's head. But he had to deal with a
bower greater than his own, over which his
only advantage was his agility. Bolivar
easily shook him off and tossed him to some
distance.
The contest was quickly decided. The
lion prepared for another spring. he lay
back on his launches, and with ears flat
tened against his head and eyes cleaning
like balls of fire, crept forward stealthily,
cautiously measuring the distance. With
suppressed grow the 1.-the, tawny
form shot through the air. The ele
plants trunk was then turned over
his back, and his little black eyes were
swapping viciously. With motion so quick
as to be almost imperceptible the proboscis
was lowered and elevated twice and then
came down with terrific force, striking the
lion as he was in midair, and he fell To the
ground somewhat stunned. Before he could
recover the elephant dealt him terrific
blow in the side, and reaching forward the
full length Of his chain he drew the lion to-
ward him, and lifting his free foot he leaned
his whole weight on his fallen foe. The
effect was to crush in the ribs of the con-
ouered monarch of the forest. In this man
ner he tramped all over the lion until life
was gone. Even then he did not cease, but
continued to trample the body until it was
crushed almost to jelly. Then be raised
it with his trunk and tossed it to the other
end of the stable
Bolivar sustained no serious injury except
a slight confusion on the head and on the
trunk