The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-11
DODGING A BIG LION.
Excitement in Carolina Town Where
the King of Beasts Upsets His Cage

John III. Sparks's show exhibited here
Friday TO "A tent full OF people lhei"
was "a large number Of ladies' ana child
rem present The exhibition YVES very
satisfactory until the concert alter mo
main performance began. About half IN,
spectators left when this began ana INC
streets were crowded with people anu
vehicles when Romeo the big Hon win
the circus. was turned from MS cage IA
a steel arena TO perform. The manager
had lust finished "A speech relating low
this fierce and powerful Hon haa hlnet
three raon and stated that ne Welkhen
go pounds and was the largest anlma
of his kind in captivity, when the Keeper
began Shaping Romeo In the face with A
niece of beef. The lion sprang toward
the door Of the arena and attempted 10
return 10 mis- cage. which was Backed up
against tie arena. Ills head struck tho
door. and his great weight overturned
the cage. which was on wheels.
The savage animal was then free In the
tent For moment lie stood as II daz,d
and then sprane about twenty feet. land
ing on the end Of the reserved seats,
which was crowded with men women ana
children. 4 panic al once seized the
neonle and cries Of frightened women
ard children broke from every side.
Many persons scaled the walls OF the
tont and Jumped over them. The Hon ran
under the seats with his keeper after him
with q whip. he ran outside and lsaped
a fence and then made back Tor the man
tent The cry THE lion Is out arose,
and there was a mad rush OF people for
safety. Some were run over and tramp
led under foot. bu, no one was seriously
hurt EXCEPT Mrs. John Turner. who. in
getting over "a fence with her children,
lost her footing and fen, breaking her
arm. The negro houses nearby were
filed with frightened people seeking
safety. while others tore of through tho
woods and fields and ran as they had
never run before Hats caps and ciosks
were lost In the wild flight. and a number
OF unclaimed articles OF this kind arc yet
IN possession Of the town policeman.
FINALLY the lion took refuge I'm tho
dressing room OF the main tent ana
when his cage was backed up he ran INTO
II.
It was a hard matter 20 tell wnich Was
the worse frightened. the Hon OF thf
people. Many funny incidents OF ths
event are related. when the non hNu
escaped from the tent Mt J. Z. Peterson
lost sight az Mrs. Peterson ana went 20
seek her. He raised the Hap oi IN" ,c"e
10 20 out and just as ne eid me ION
met him coming back and ne ai'" Hi.'
Peterson came near kissing ttrn "'het-
! The lion passed I'm and Mr. fetersp'
, Mr.. Henry T. FairsOn seized lsrte
sledgehammer and held Il aloft prepare
to defend hts territory. Mr.. DOCK crun-
pier seized small dog and darea tne h"a
10 come his way. and the lion didn't 4
number OF the circus people CLIMBED ~
piles and ropes out OF danger WY. M.'
Tom Wash Crumpler came w @nn BIZ -
led a group by exclaiming My God. men.
Tho Rr,,tsh lion Is loose and almost
frightened my little boy 70 death" 49,.
Mr.. Sparks informed the writer iha a
were found on top Ok the tent. where
their frightened fathers or nurses had
thrown them FOR safety ana then Yea our
| a, danrer There has been nothing 30
! c,,s,ss "a CLINTON since the earthquake.
l 1t,,re eise was talked about FOR a Gay
! or TWO following the event They 'eil
| sor,, GOOD ones on how fast some ~ our
/ w. felows ran-Cnnton Democrat