Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-15
ALMOST A STAMPEDE.

Causeis less Excitement in the Fore
pau:h Circus Tents ar The CIoss of
Yesterday Afternoons Perform
ance.
Either through outrageous indiscretion
or cowardly villainy on the part of an
individual whose name could not be
learned, the next thing to panic occur
red in the Forepaugh circus an menagerie
tents at the close of the afternoon per-
Torrance at 4:S0 yesterday. Just as the
immense throng of people was passing
out OF the circus into the menagerie tent,
and while the narrow passagewsy from
one to the other was jsmmed, man well
dressed, of average size and apparently
about 20 years of age. and wearing a
brown derby hat, rushed toward the surg
ing crowd and with a look of terror on
his face. screamed, "Get back. for Gods
sake! Run for your lives;
there is lion loose in this tent! TIE
crowd halted, and all was confusion and
excitement in an instant. A stampede
seemed imminent. but happily those who
maintained self-possession succeeded in
quietiug the more excited ones before
any serious harm resulted, although many
rushed out through the entrance and
others escaped by crawling under the
tent.
After the excl ement had sbsted and
investigation as to the cause could be
calmly made, it was learned that while an
employe was feeding the animals.
panther in jumping forward to sieze 8
piece of meat, which was put in at part
~ opened gate, lost its balance and fell
out OF the opening to the OR ound The
feeder became alarmed and throwing
down the piece of meat, fed, while the
panther Sized it and hustled under the
cage where it crouched and ate it, all
the time showing as much fear and tremb-
ling ss would badly scared cat.
Inc individual who came very nearly
causing calamity saw The incident and
whether crazed by fear he lost his euui-
l5lum il he ever had any, Nor
with villains purpose TO take dYautage
OF a stampeding crowd of people to rob
their pockets is not known, but at any
rate he gave the alarm. Whatever were
his intentions, or whether or not be had
! any, he should have been caught and
placed in the cage from which the animal
leaped. He is much more dangerous in
| public assembly than a whole herd of
untamed panthers. lions or eopards. He
belongs TO that same category of murder
ously inclined people who will cry fire ,
in a crowded theatre.
Whether il is true or not that pick
pockets started the scare ii is true that a
| number of them got in their work during
! the excitement, and u number of ladies
lost purses and jewelry
After the excitement was over at the
tent all sorts Of reports came down town,
some being that the lion cage had capsized
and the lions were devouring the multitude.
others that the elephants had stampeded
killing many people. others that several
ladies had tainted, many names in partic-
ulsr being mentioned. but all these re-
ports were the work of idle tongues and
were groundless as usual in such cases.
The incident, happily as II turned out,
contains valuable lesson, which. if peo-
pie would only heed, would make them
better fitted to act upon the moClse on
occasions of this kind and there would be
less cause for actual danger in conse-
quence.