The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-05-24
KEELING A OECREP.T OLD LION,
Shot to Death by Orders of Ills Owner
His Fight for Life.

The big lion belonging to the Wood
ward Gardens menagerie in San Fran
cisco was recently shot TO death. 1t
took 4 mum Der of bullets from a Win
chester rifle to lay him out. His new
owner caused him TO be Shot for his
skin. The nobel looking brute was "
ing down and licking his forepaws
when Il sharpshooter, who officiated as
his eXecutioner. raisci his gun and
aimed ut his heart. At Inc first shot.
says the Examiner, the lion leaped to
his feet and rushed first into far
corner of his cage. and then down to
the bars, where he showed his teeth
as he looked savagely at the crowd
that had gathered to see him killed.
As he thus stood for a second or two
the ritieman again took aim. and just
rs he was about to press the trigger
the lion began running to and fro in
the way common to his kind. The
man lowered his rifle, not wishing TO
injure the skin by making too many
holes. Presently the lion stopped.
when a second and third shot were
fired at him in rapid succession. He
was evidently wounded. for blood i'm
kAiOtistA'iN OC-iii ~ lINhiC w ~ IL MS ltll
shoulder. Then the king of the forest
began to show his mettle. He tossed
up his head, shaking his heavy name
rs though it Were llag of defiance, and
emitted a roar which caused the crowd
involuntarily to fall back few steps.
The wounded lion turned around four
or five times and made another dash
for the bars, leaping up until his paws
were near the top.
The shooter took advantage of the
favorable position TO pour in four more
shots, bat they only seemed to have
the effect of maddening the brute,
whose blood was now discoloring his
legs and beginning 10 form pools on
the floor. He roared louder than ever
and San about in blind fury, never
once eyincing any sign that he intend
ed giving up unless pound of lead
was poured into him. The sight was
pitiful, and most of those present be.
gan to wish that his life would be
spared. 1t was some time before an
other good aim could be taken, so rest
less was the victim. He was, however,
showing signs OF exhaustion. When
stopping for a minute TO swallow some
of his own blood two more bullets were
driven into him.
These wero decisive OF the conflict
The lion staggered a moment and then
fell heavily on his side with his back
toward the front of the cage. He made
desperate attempts to rise again but
his roar had now changed into a most
distressing groan. The blood from the
slaughter pen began 10 run out
through the bars, but the lion still
lived and moved, his struggles being
mainly to get up on his feet again. As
the brute was evidently in great
misery ii was determined 10 lire few
more shots at him, 50 the rifcman
never stopped until he had emptied
ten shells in all. BY the time the last
shot was fired the wretched lion ceased
to move, and it was evident that he
was lifeless. The lion shUs killed was
born in Woodward's gardens in 1881,
and the circumstances Of his birth eX-
cited much interest at that time. The
late Mr.. Woodward named him Gar.
field. after President Ga rtield, who had
not yet been stricken by Guiteau's bull.
let.