Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-09

THE LIONS ENGAGED IN TERRIBLE
CONFLICT.
were In the ring. Instantly the noise
of n terrible commotion made itself
heard from the other side. The Rus
SLAMS now loosed me, and we all ran up
into the amphitheatre. Here the scene
beggars all description; men were
shouting and gesticulating, while wom-
en- were screaming or fainting ell
around the circus. Making my way
through the crowd, ran down to the
barred ring where Irma Delavnnte lay
PROSTATE under the claws of the lion
Leo.
In the meantime the circus people
seemed paralyzed, and no determined
effort was made to drive the lion off.
Red-hot irons were procured; but they
were too short, and no one dared TO en-.
ter the ring. The one man (Monfroid)
who would have done so was absent.
Suddenly all eyes were attracted to
Nero, who was standing in part Of
the ring opposite to where ! stood. To
my dismay perceived that the majcs-
tic and noble animal was preparing for
q spring. With roar that, like a clap
of thunder, seemed to shake the build
ing TO its center, the animal in one
bound flew across the arena and dashed
with irresistible force against the other
lion, sending it flying like n shot from
gun against the iron bars of the cir.
Gus. In an instant the lions sprang at
each other and engaged in terrible
CONFLICT; and, while they were settling
old scores, entered the ring and car
ried out the insensiblc form of the
young lion-tamer amidst the ringing
cheers of the excited audience
Fortunately, a surgeon was at hand;
and before we left the circus we were
all greatly relieved by his assurance
that the wounds the maddencd animal
had inflicted were not of serious ma
ture.
While the doctor was examining Irma
in her dressing-room the circus people
were doing all that was possible to sep
arate the two lions however, this was
not effected before Leo was killed by
its more powerful antagonist Nero,
however, had been so fearfully mauled
that-to the genuine sorrow of every
one in the troupc-.thc noble brute had
to be shot the next morning.
A few minutes before the faithful
animal was killed, was seated i'm the
sdUe-a-mdHgr of the CdIG lie Paris, when
an official of the police cntere d and sat
down opposite To me.
Your name, nation atty and occupa-
tion?" he demanded, curtly
told him, and in answer to several
queries told him all | knew about the
dragging of the lion. you have ar
rested Orlof, suppose?' said in con-
clusion.
Certainly. sir; and you yourself are
under arrest. You must on no account
attempt to leave Russian territory un-
til this matter has been submitted to
the consideration OF the emperor. For
your own sake ! advise you not to
leave Odessa without express permits
sion OF the authorities. You will be
under constant surveillance until his
imperial majesty has given his decis-
ton."
Surely, sir, you do not imagine I
have had hand in this AFFAIR."" said,
aghast.
"No! We shall have to detain you az
an important witness, whose evidence
will be necessary should the car order
trial"
A month elapsed before the emper.
or's decision was sent to the Odessa
authorities, and all that time I was
Kept virtually prisoner in the Black
sea port. This was all the more arbi-
srary as all the other members of the