The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-23
WOMAN FIuHTs A LEOPARD.
conquers Him I'm n Cage and Then Goes
60 Hospital.

Philadelphia. Sept. 20 About fifty
persons who happened to be near the
cages In which the animals Of the Hagen
beck show. now exhibiting at the Notion
al Export Exposition, are kept. this
morning raw q fight between Mile.
Morelli, trainer Of ieopards, and one Of
her ,harges The fight lasted about ten
minutes and as result the young woman
IL In the University Hospital with her
chest torn and piece bitten out of her
left arm. The leopard which attack her
was pierced several times with the tines
OF o pitchfork and 1t is probable that he
will die.
The show got IN late Saturday night,
and the cages for the animals were not
ready, so they had to Re kept in the trav-
cling cages. which ara very small. On
Monday some of the animals were trans
ferrsd, but the lsopar DIS cages were no.
ready and SO they were allowed to stay out
In the small boxes. Last night there was
a severe storm and these animals we're
exposed to 1t. This made their temper
had this morning, but the manager de-
termined to have the first show OF the
week this afternoon and rehearsal was
ordered. The leopards were, transferred to
large cages.
Nile. MorelIi opened the door of the
cage in which the big leopard Rapier
stood snarling. She was clad in French
blouse Of deep red and tights of the same
hue. In her right hand she had u whip
and in the left, which she kspt behind
her back, was revolver, for she antici-
pated trouble with the leopard and was
prepared TO subdue him. As she entered
Rapier lowered his head and, showing his
teeth, skunk into the far corner. The
young woman went near him and fspoke.
The only attention he paid to her words
was to lash his tail angrily and spit.
without further words she raised the whip
and brought il down on the back of the
animal. He retreated. and she followed,
| striking him a second time, the last cut
| ting his face. He crouched for spring,
but she hit him the third time with the
lash and he ran whining to the other side
OF the Gage. The trainer again gave an
order but he refused to move and she
| struck him with tho whip. In an in
staff, and without giving warning, 1.-THE
| leopard leaped into the dir and landed on
her shoulders, his left forepaw sinking
into her chest and tearing of the cloth
| ing. So quick had been the spring that
| she was unable to bring the revolver into
| use and, when he struck her the weapon
was hurled to the other side of the cage
| Reversing the whip mile. Morelli beat
the animal on the head until he loosened
| his grip ana sunk to the floor. Guards
had been trying to get TO her assistance
but the door was locked and nothing
could be done. One of them had secured
three-pronged fork, which he passed
| through the bars, and as the animal fell
| the trlainer backed toward this and raised
\ 1t just as he was about to spring for the
| cnQOnd Ha Inn oA an
the prongs which ran deep into his breast
He fell and ran, but the woman followed
him, triking him at every step with the
sharp points. Not until he was exhaust
ed did she stop prodding him. She then
walked to the door, opened iJ from the
| inside and fell into the arms Of q guard.
Her left arm was helpless and her chest
was terribly laceratsd. A year ago In
| Omaha, Mile. Moreili was attacked and
her chest laoerated by jaguar.