The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-10
COWBOYS LION HUNT.
Pig Fritz Gets Loose From Winter
Quarters.
Wild Scene at. "a Circus c ptured by
) Loving Strategcm.

The Wild West and the Barnum- Bailey
shows were going into winter quarters al
Bridgeport, Conn. There was turmoil and
confusion. There w1s danger and fierce
conflict as the untamed animals were be.
ing driven from their travelling cages to
their winter ones. The nylghau escaped,
and there was a terrific tusslc before it was
recaptured, and In this tussle George
Conklin, whose pets are elephants, lost
Mckinley button given to him by the fair
hands of the first lady of the land elect
when the circus was In Canton.
A frantic search for the lost treasure
was under way when an alarming cry
was raised:
"Eritz has escaped To horse, to horsel"
1t was horrible cry to the circus men,
but to the rough riders of the Wild West
show Ii sounded like sweet music. Here
was lark indeed.
They did not wait for saddles or for
brides. They mounted the first thing that
came their way and with shrill cries Of
Rlee set forth upon the chase "A lionl IL
beat all the grizzlies that ever cracked men
and horses as the Wild West audiences
crack peanuts during performance.
Fritz Is the biggest lion In America.
His temper Is uncertain, and his teeth are
new and sharp But IL he was big as an
elephant and had mouth like the sea SER
pent those rough ridors would have rid.
den forth just the same.
George ConkIin unleashed the Great
Danes
"At him, boys" no said. The noble
dogs sprung toward the yellow beast, who
had been galloping around the "cat" In
closure wondering which way he could
best celebrate his freedom and the election
But Fritz was not to be cowed by dogs
Quick as a fash he turned and crushed
the head Of one dog The other bounded
toward him with a growl, and the lion,
turning tail, leaped over the fence and
started up Christian avenue with his tail
between his legs and spirits decidedly
shaken.
Then came the view halloo and the wild
hvrrah boys of the chase. 1t was a motley
string. Men mounted on dappled circus
horses, on mustangs, on numbering cage
pullers came roaring up the street. Peter
Carroll was modnted on a zebra, which
tradition las put down as unridable. His
long legs twinod around its striped sides
like grapevine, and he rode IL as easily
ms If 1t had been lady s pony. Indians,
cowboys, circus men all took part in the
hunt. The dogs led the van until the GEM
etery was reached, and then their real
seemed TO run out at the tips of their tails.
But the men kept on.
"Seen lion pass this wayf" asked the
leader Of Brad Pierce, who was watching
the motley throng with mouth agape.
"Goshl' was the reply. WAS that q
liony i thought it was yaller dogl" And
Brad Pierce went inside his house TO pray.
On the shores OF Moody's pond old Fritz
stood at bay. Ho was angry now, and his
yellow name stood up stiff, as II starched,
while his long tail swept the ground from
side TO side with motion slow, but sug-
gestive of intense watchfulness.
Surround himr' screamed George Con.
kiln, who has captured lions before. "Sur.
round him with ycur nets!' :.
The circus men dashed to the front.
Carroll on his zebra in the van. The lion
crouched for spring. He took II as a bowl
der shoots from catapult The sheen Of
the zebra had caught his eye Down went
the poor animal, with Carroll underneath.
The striped beast was killed by blow.
The man escaped.
Then the dogs dashed in, and there was
mix up. Old. Fritz got out Of IL some
how and with his jaws dripping with the
warm blood of the zebrn jumped into the
pond and swan across
After him, boys!r yelled Conkliu, his
fighting blood aroused, and the mcanted
men drove their steeds around the pond
and after the running beast.
1t was cross country run. Farms were
travcrsed, highways crossed bits of wood
land penetrated Horses and sheep and
other domestic animals ran for their lives,
and farmers wero no less agile in getting
out of the way.
At last Samp rock was reached 1t is
rude hillock with plenty of holes at tho
base, and into one of these the fugitive
crawlcd
Now we've got himi, said George
ConElin
With the skill of n veteran he directed
the stretching Of the nets. No loophole
was left for the escape. of the lion The
latter was pokod with poles, but refused 20
come out and be captured. His roars of
anger shook the countryside. There was
no dislcdsing him by force. II was plainly
a case for stratagem and guile
Conklin whispered To two of the rough
riders, who spurred back To winter quar-
ters, and presently the cage containing the
lioncss Nellie of whom Fritz is enamored,
was trunded out to the scene 1t was
drawn by four white horses. TO tally with
Nelle's tawny hnir.
The den was backed up to the cave in
which Fritz had taken refuge. The horses
were unhitched. and driven away the nets
drawn snug and the cage door opened
Nellie, the siren, stretched herself along
the floor of the cage and began 20 call to
Fritz. Fritz poked out his head You
could almost sec him smile. Nellie rolled
over playfully, coquctting like cat. Fritz
drew nearer. He hesitatod moment, but
the attraction was too great. With "a sud
den bound be leaped into the cage. He
ran 20 one end Of 10. Conkln, who was
concealed on top, sprung the doors, and
Fritz found himself captive, with a stout
grated door between him and his love.
When ho found how he had been trapped,
the big beast looked mad enough, and his
face plainly looked as II he was saying to
himself, That's low lived trick"
IL was queer procession which return
cd from the hunt Men and horses were
Al. M