Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-06-24
Coycd an Angry Lion.

Few of those who saw Miss Johns
tons at the evening performance at Ha-
genbeck's knew just moment before
she appeared smiling in the arena she
had gone through an experience that
she will never forget. At the perform
ance of the animals she puts lion
through an act in which the animal
rides on the back of a horse. The lion
is called Black Prince. He is Il big,
black maned animal, and of late he has
developed a temper A week ago he
made slash at Miss Johnstons with his
paw, and she narrowly escaped. Since
that time he has been getting worse,
and it required firm hand to make
him 60 through the performance.
Late yesterday Black Prince came in
contact with another lion called Prince.
They Immediately began to fight. For
thirty seconds it was a battle royal.
Tue powerful brutes struck and bit
each other, and it required the united
force of the trainers to separate them
and get each one into a separate cage.
The fight took place q few minutes
before Miss Johnstons' turn came to
90 on and give her performance. There
is door at the back Of the cages and a
narrow passageway that leads into the
big cage in the centre of the arena. 1t
is the practice of the performer to stand
by the entrance while the lions are let
out and then follow them into the per-
forming arena. AS usual, Miss Johns
tons was at her post. 1t was just before
the 7 o'clock performance, and the
light at the back of the cage was dim.
When the door of the cage was open
ed Black Prince sprung out with saw
age roar. When he saw Miss john
stons he paused for moment. She
saw the dangerous look in his eyes and
changed the whip from the right hand
to the left. An iron rod lay on the
floor between her and the angry lion.
The situation was trying. Black Prince
crouched ready for a spring. AS he
lowered to the floor Miss Johnstons
bent down and kept her eyes on the
lion. Not word was spoken. A cry
would have meant death to the i'm
perilled woman. Slowly she advanced
toward the iron rod. Black Prince saw
the move and knew what was coming.
Just an instant before her fingers
clutched the rod the lion sprung. But
Miss Johnstons saw him coming, and
with courage and GOODNESS that makes
heroes she sprung close up against the
wall in the cage and the brute brushed
past her. Before he could turn she had
the rod in her hand.
The baiFled brute turned with a saw
age roar and started for the woman.
This time, armed, she held her ground.
The rod descended with a sounding
blow on the head of the brute. For
fully two minutes it was battle for
supremacy Miss Johnstons won, and,
driving the brute into the arena, she
followed, and smiled to the audience,
which applauded her as though she had
just stepped from her dressing room.
Once only during the performance did
the lion show his temper. That was
when he was ordered to leap from the
pedestal to the horses back. Miss
Johnstons was behind him, and, as he
was stubborn, she struck him a light
blow with her whip. The lion turned
fercely and struck at her, and in doing
so fell off the pedestal. He crouched
to spring, but the daring woman march
ed up to him and made him cover with
q look -(Hjcn1O REGARD