Evening journal., 1891-04-07
THE RAGE OF 4 LIONESS.
Keeper Foster Badly Clawed at
Barnum's Circus.
BE WAS HANDLING BELLIES CUBS.

The Mothers Fears Were Aroused aud
She Pulled Him Partly Through the
Bars Of the cage--Rescued from a Hor-
rible Fate BY Lion Tanner conkiing.
NEW YORK. April 5-Joseph Foster, one
OF the keepers in Barnum's menagerie
had a narrow escape from death yesterday
Belle, the fierce young African lioness, got
her claws on him while he was attending
to hercubs and dragged his left leg through
the bars of her cage The prompt action
Of George Conkling, the tanner Of wild
beasts, who has been with Barnum toi
years, alone saved the unfortunate keeper
from a horrible ending. As i was, his leg
was terribly lacerated above and below the
knee and histrousers were torn into shreds
The lioness remained very much excited
all day and roared and jumped At the bars
Of her cage whenever any one approached.
The Lion Tanners Pleasant Task.
II has been the custom Of the lion tanner
to take Bellies three cubs from her cage
every morning since the menagerie opened
in Madison square garden and 20 give
them an hours romp in the circus ring nj
stairs. The cubs are only three months
old, and the exercise is considered necos
sary for their health The cage is divided
into three compartments, with heavy iron
bars across the front aud sides One Of the
end compartments was occupied mp 70 the
time Of the accidentsby pair Of hyenas
There Is an iron barred door connecting
the other two which are devoted to the
lioness and her young
The Lion Was Furious.
Whenever il is necessary to handle th,
cubs the mother is driven into a compart
ment by herself and the connecting dool
| is closed This is what was done by keepe
| Foster yesterday preparatory to taking on
the cubs The minute he laid hands q
one Of the little fellows the mother let fortl
a terrible roar aud sprang at the barre'
door with all her strength. She was furi
GUS Foster waited few moments till he
anger had somewhat spent itself, and the
be picked one of the babies up IN his arm
and backed out toward the door
Her Claws in His Flesh.
The lioness kept her blazing eyes fxe
on him, lashing her sides meantime wit
her tail. In climbing to the floor Foste
used one OF the wheels of the cage as
ladder. In feeling for the wheel he passe
his leg within about foot Of the bar
Quick as a flash the lioness grabbed for j
She sunk her claws into Fosters flesh ju'
above the left knee and dragged the l.
between the bars. Foster was forced /
let 70 his hold Of the cage and was su
pended head downward The little cu
tumbled in heap on the floor.
, Saved by the Tanner.
IL Conkling, the tanner, was standing clio
: by the cage at the time He has wonds
I fiji control over all the wild beasts in Ba
4 NUNS collection and will enter the Gag
Z Of any Of them He grabbed Up hea'
. iron bar with a forked point, such as
4 used ia feeding the lions, and shouted
, the beast 20 lie down, at the same tin
1 jabbing the long, sharp prongs Of the foi
{ into her nose.
) The lioness uttered a sharp cry Of pa
4 and relinquished her hold. retreating in
i a corner Of her cage Foster fell faintiI
y to the floor He was assisted 70 his qua
ters, where his wounds were examin
) | and found to be not very serious. The on
K danger he has to fear is blood poisonii
q from the claws.