The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-15
A LION CONQUERED.
The Most Thrilling Incident in Lion
Tanners Life.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

There was thrilling incident at the
geological garden late Saturday afternoon.
In removing the large African lion Paul
from one cage to another the beast broke
from his box and escaped.
The animal was loose, untrammeled, and
alone with its master
1t was trying scene. and resulted in a
triumphant victory of man over beast, Illus
trating the power Of the human eye over
the fiercest denizens of the animal kingdom.
The man was Sol Stephans, the superln-
tencent of the Zoo, and q peculiar combi-
nation OF circums ances arose by which he
was placed in the position of peril-a posi-
ton that he will never forget to the end of
his life. The incident occurred after the
visitors had all left the garden, and
JUST BEFORE CLOSING THE GATES
for the night. The cage in the extreme east
of the carnivora is occupied by the large
African lions, Paul and his mate, Flora.
He is a fine-lookiDg, large-headed, shaggy
named powerful a1imal, one blow from
whose right Iaw, when backed by his full
strength, is sufficient TO crush horse, while
the tawny-colored Flora has no NAME and
with her short ears, might be taken for an
immense cat.
The female. during the past several days,
has worried her male with her importuni-
ties and rough caresses.
J.
unusually spiteful at his keepers, as ali ami
mails of wild nature are during the mating
season.
Next the lions cage is an old cougar or
| jaguar, so vicious that he cannot look YOU
in the face, and has TO be kept behind iron
bars for fear of his eating up his own chill
dren. No keeper would think of entering
his cage without being heavily armed.
The partition between his cage and that of
the lions was not overly strong, and lately
the Jaguar has developed a wonderful IA
cIlity Of
sPRINGING AGAINST IT
with all his force. These springs onlv
aroused the lions, who, until yesterday, re-
sented the onslaughts by loud roars aud low,
muttering growls.
About 5o'clock yesterday afternoon, how
ever. while Billy Hostetter had gone TO look
after some of the ANIMALS about the elephant
quarters and Stephans was on his way
home, which is on Vine street near the
Power house. as he passed the carnivora
he heard a heavy crash, and, knowing
that something unusual had happened,
rushed into the building, only to
discover that the partition had
given way: that instead of the jaguar
jumping against it, both Paul and his mate
probably enraged at the jaguar's too fire.
quent crashing against their bedroom wall,
had decided to give him dose of his own
medicine, and both had simultaneously
leaped with all their force against the parti-
ton, whose upper fastenings to the ceiling
had given way, and landing against the op-
posite side of the jaguar's cage, completely
corralled the now thoroughly terrified beast
in space under the partition.
Realizing the situation, and knowing
that prompt action was needed, Mr.. Ste
phans rushed to the tiger cage. which is at
the west end of the building, and, hastily
lifting the door into the fresh air of the
outer cage, the two tigers bounded out.
This gave him strong empty cage, into
which he
PROPOSED TO PUT THE LIONS,
while the partition was repaired and the
jaguar released. He packed up a box
which is used for moving the larger wild
animals when necessary, for, though ele-
plants and camels can be led and prodded
along, yet animals of the cat tribe are
always moved in boxes or cages. They
won't lead, and you can't whip or prod
them along. Paul jumped into the box as
soon as 1t was placed at the door of his
cage, and the slide was closed. Stephans
then rolled the box along the stone pave
ment, for it is on rollers. toward the tigers
empty cage. When about midway In the
carnivora hall Paul became obstreperons,
| and, thrashing about in toe box with all his
might and main, managed to knock off the
cover and vault out
He took his stand by the side of the box.
and gradually bent his back until his belly
nearly touched the floor. His long, black
tail moved cat-like back and forth, like the
slow, steady swinging of a clock pendulum.
Stephaus recognized his peril, and stood
looking at the
FLASHING EYES OF THE ENRAGED BEAST.
He was making every preparation to
spring, and Stephans knew that the mo-
ment he took his eyes off the monster he
was gone.
Every second seemed an hour, he said
afterward. 81 could almost feel my hair
turning W hiJe. Great cold waves of chilli
ness ran up and down my back, and beads
of perspiration stood out on my face. l
was thoroughly frightened, but knew
that the human would, if l could look at
| the animal long enough, eventually calm
the lion"
So Stephans stood as though rooted to the
stone floor. He bad no weapon, not even q
club.
Would the animal jumpa
Slowly the tail moved back and forth,
but the superintendent never took his eyes
| from those of the hon, whose head almost
brushed the floor of the building, and whose
eyes almost pierced him through. Gradually
| they lost THAR fierceness and began to blink.
| Then the hattie was over
"Paul. move en-" in stern tones, was all
the superintendent SAID
The animal turned, and, walking into a
| corner, the box was pushed against him and
| he entered it. He was soon safely in the
| tigers cage, where his mate was also placed,
and the carpenters soon fixed up the parti-
| ton. While this was being done a box was
| showed into the jaguar's cage and that
vicious specimen securely kept there until
| the carpenters had finished their lob