Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-11-12
ION nuh1 N plRMInorAn.

The eastern suburb ~ birmingham
was yesterday the scene ~ protracied
aud exciting lion hunt, which resulted
happily without serious casualty, la the
rrcapturr ~ the runaway anlmal. In
connection with the local celebration of
the Mlchaelmss fair, Messrs. Wombwell
hsd established their wcll-known menag.
erie on = piece of waste ground known
~ the old Peck at Ashton. where the
caravans were drawn up w n hollow
squsrc. One ~ the cage. contained q
Young blsck-maned Nuhisn lion about
four wears oil. which arrived In Blrming-
ham from Liverpool onlv that morning
about mld-.lay. The keeper entered the
len to clean N, aud while engaged IN this
duty hi attention va. momentarily di-
ycrted bv FIGHT between m ostrich aud
deer. When be- looked round be- found
the cage empty. the lion having appar-
entlv slipped out through an Opening in
The slde IL the den caused hv the dls-
placement ~ movable woolen shutter.
The fastening ~ the latter. " secms,
hal heen Withdrawn nv an elephant In
the adjoining den. The liou. having pass-
~ unohssryr,l under the caravans. pre-
entity found himself ON the fair ground.
NJ hr.t the animal seemcl quite how'll
isrssl with the noise ~ the people. the
hlare ~ IN. steam trumpsis. the clashing
~ cymbal.. and the believing ~ the
Organs. and II remained for some time
rootel io the spot. The pcople we're too
hnsy a. Observe II until the alarm was
given hv wombvell'. men. Who hurried
~ the spot srmc,l with rop". AMI iron
hars. when a sccne ~ Wild confusion
ensuel. Men, women, and children,
scampered % In All directions a. the Hon
dashed acros. tho ground. hotly pursued
Nv the men from Womhwell's. \ group
~ children were In ~. path. bat Il CLEARED
them ~ = bound. and made straight for
the neighhoring brook. AFTER wading
up stream for about INV wards the panic-
stricken animal. sccing L. pursucrs close
u hand. appears a. have crept Into
sewer. where II Temporarily di.appearci
from view. The drain. to the right ~
the brook hld bccn explored for several
hundrsi yhris la every direction with
out anv suc,-css, when Marrus Orenro.
ihe chief lion-tamer. heard the fugitive
lion roar. lcinc-l the sound With dlfli-
rultv io the channel leading Ca the man-
hole AZ the junction ~ the road io the
outlet In the brook wherr the lion flr-t en-
ier,,l. sni hr AZ oncc arranged "a crawl
through the drain In pursuit of the b"ast.
transfer cagr Was obtained and taken
IN the brpok. when the drop-'loor Nas
llncl. ani the mouth ~ the cage placed
tgsinst the openlng ~ the drain.
Nv thls time Orvngo had changed hi
clothes. aud ame,l with = heavy revolver
tnd accompanied hy bosrhound, be-
lc.ccndc,l through the manhole into the
sswer. Twic. IN succcssl0n revolver
shots echoed through the Underground
passsgr-. and to the dariug explorer the
animal. ruar showed that be- was on the
right track. Crawling along, Orrnyo
u length caught sight ~ the animal,
which NJ first turned a. hay. but quickly
icl a. the discharge ~ the revolver aud
made toward the cage az the other cni
~ the sewer. Tho lion-tamer craNlc'i
ifier Il With all haste. aud the faithful
hoarhound kept clo.c AZ hand. When
ihe mouth of the cage came Ia view the
log Vas sent to th~ front, aud AZ th"
vur,l ~ command gave vent to q drafen-
Ing bark: almo.t simultaneously there
aas q scramhling noise Ia the under
ground channels. and ln another Instant
the Ion bounded into the trap .et for
him and ~. promptly Gagged and caricd
hack to che mcuagrrie.-londo Times,
sept ..