Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-30
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
From II Burning BaIloon-Wo-
mans Fight With an Eagle, Etc.

experience we once had when was
with Wallace's show several years ago.
The keeper stood near the lions
cages while the animals were being
fed. He continued:
81 was employed as head keeper of
the managerie. We had cage of six
lions that [ bad raised from Cubs,
yShich were named after the planets.
A man named Dale rode in the cage
with them on parade, and as part of
tho performance Dale took his little
thre e-year-old girl into the cage with
him and executed various tricks with
the lions in which the little one took
prominent part. She was never In
the least afraid of the big brutes,
and played with them as a child would
with a big dog.
"Dale was drinking man, and
whenever he was under the influence
of liquor he always had more or less
trouble with the lions. They seemed
to realize his condition and took Of
fense at it.
"Finally the unexpected did hap
pen. We were giving a performance
in little town in the South. The
tent was packed with people, who sat
breathless as the big cage was brought
in and Dale, as Professor Jacques
D'Aubignon, with his little daughter
Mignon, entered the cage with the
beasts. The little tot was dressed in
a simple white frock, and her long
golden curls and pretty blue eyes
formed striking contrast to the
surly, majestic mein OF the hugh lions.
She walked fearlessly among them,
patting them on the head and caress-
ing them gently.
"Dale had been drinking that day
harder than usual and was cross and
irritable when he entered the cage.
Tho lions had evidently made up their
minds to stand no foolishuess and
went through their tricks sullenly. At
length Dale allowed his temper to get
away with him, and on some slight
pretence struck Jupiter, the biggest
lion, a sharp blow across the face. In
stantly Jup' sprang forward with a
roar and knocked Dale half way across
the cage. He fell face downward,
bleeding and unconscious-for aught
we knew, dead-near the door. Some
one of the keepers sprung to the door,
and, jerking it open, dragged Dale
forth Dale before Sup renewed the
attack. Dale was carried into the
dressing room, where it was found he
was only slightly injured and would
recover in a few days.
"Meantime all was confusion in the
tent. The men made a mad rush for
the door, women screamed and fainted
and children cried. All the men of
the circus crowded around the cage.
'Llttle Mignon was still in the cage
among the savage lions and liable at
any moment to be killed. The great
brutes were thoroughly aroused and
paced wildly back and forth, roaring
and growing. 1t was instant death
for any man to enter, yet | resolved
to go into the cage at all hazards and
rescue the little tot before she was
torn to pieces before our eyes.
"Meanwhile little Mignon had stood
in the farthest corner OF the cage, not
knowing whether to be frightened or
| nOt. 1lGE luluGE uutl DGeu removed,
however, and as she had sometimes
been allowed to stay in with the lions
alone she soon made up her mind that
it was al right, and boldly walked
forward. By this time the managers
had succeeded in quieting the crowd
and all sat breathless awaiting what
the next moment would bring forth.
| Nj I frip 10 l.
the little one, but my voice failed to
respond.
1.-THE little tot walked straight to
Jupiter and said, in her litrle childish
voice: Nice "Jup." What made 20
sap my papa so hard? 90 souldn't
! be so wough, giving him little slap
on his great, shaggy head, MS she spoke.
Instantly the lions stopped and stool
motionless for m instant. l expected
surely that that was the last moment
of the little tots life. But they made
no attempt to harm her. Their wild,
fierce eyes, that moment before were
balls of fire, seemed to grow soft, and
their great jaws closed slowly.
"'Come, "Jup," les lie down, said
little Mignon, leading him by the
name to the front of the cage. The
great brute slowly sunk down and the
little one lay down on his powerful,
tawny neck, nesting her golden curla
il the great shaggy mane. 1t was a
trick she had often done before, and
she seemed to think it matter of
course. Pretty soon she sprdng up,
saying: 'Good-by, "Jup,' old fellow,
and giving him a hug and few part.
lug caressos she skipped to the cage
door.
81 was almost frantic in my haste
to shoot the big bolts back and open
the massive door, but she sprung into
my arms and the door changed behind
her. Outside the crowd cheered and
yelled itself hoarse. The performance
went on, but no one paid the least at.
tention to it, Every one was discuss
ing the miracle he had Just seen. Dale
soon recovered, and so far as | know