The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-04-01
EXCITING
ENCOUNTER
--a=a=s==ss----=-a---
Which Took Place
a LesChi Park.
EiRiGED PUMA ATTACKS BEARS
Keeper mshoney Takes a Hsnd snd
Mas . Marrow Esospe With
His Life.

There was an exciting scene al
Lcschi park lust after noon today
that made plenty Of trouble Tor the
keeper. Mr.. ,, W. Mahoney. In fact
Il was owing 70 good fortune rather
than good management that he m.
ally escaped without broken homes
and iacefated skin.
The big puma got loose IN the
park. How u happened no one will
probably ever be ahie to explain
The cage Is a strong one. ana Is wcil
put tosether. but Il seems that the
d~pf mist accidentally have kecn
left unfastened whsn the animal Vas
fed this rorning. and after the At.
tcndant denarted the puma aacer.
tainei the fact and lost no time IN
awaiting himself ofeths opportunity
TO regain his freedom.
When HIS tawny majesty stalkrsi
forth ffegn his ease after dinner. na-
body happened % be around. and
there vas a clear field for opera
tons. II 50 happens that punas
have an Inherited fondnesa for deer
meat that they usually take great
pains 10 gratify. and thia particular
puma was no exception u the rifle.
For many moons be had shifted the
delicious oder Of uneoaked deer me {
IN close Proximity 70 his case. ana
had iongcd to sample Il the sub
stitute offered him ia the shape of
COW beef was diatastefui u had an
embalmei smell. AMI would not bear
comparison with the Wild FREE flavor
of western deer launches.
So the puma went In search % the
park deer. lie was progressing Ia
a sneaklng fashion along one OF the
park fences and close to tho corner
Of a building. when he came sudden
~ upon a terrier lying down for a
nap. There Is no telling what the dog
thought. II he stopped TO do any
thinking at all. but with a scared
howl he dashed away towards the
part Of the enclosure where the
black bears are Gagged. the puma
h<sltated for n moment. not quite
certain whether he preferred frssh
dog. or wild venlson. and then went
bounding after the terrier. which
ran with affrixhted howis toward
the hill scampcrtnx In front 81 the
eaEe. the little dog felt the hot breath
OF the puma tanning his tail. and he
shrieked In terror. II was well TOR
him. indeed. that he went - close
to the bear pit. That one clrcum-
stance saved his life beyond a doubt.
As the pursuing puma spFank past
n. one % the bears. seeing its orppr-
tunity TO get in a little good work
on the puma. showed n paw out
through the bars and dug Its long
sharp claws into the yellow hide %
the animal.
with friRhtful scream the puma
turned and dashed Mt the cage. now
intent on revcnRinx himself for the
injury inflicted by the bear. Keep
er Mahoney. who appeared NJ this
moment. coming No from the seals
enclosure TO see what the little dog 9
uproar meant. was transaxed with
astonishment and alarm when he
saw the puma lnose and fighting
savageiy with the bears through
the bars. The herce beasts were
evidently very much in earnest. and
were making bloody passes AZ each
other In swift succession. Finally
one Of the bears adopted peculiar
tactics quickly passing two paws
out through the bars, he seized the
puma around the neck and attempted
TO give him a deadly hug. The puma
gurKisd with mingled rage and suffo-
cation. and yainly struggled to tear
himself loose from the bears en-
brace.
Keeper Mahoney could stand II no
longer. Visions 81 n dead puma and
an uproar among the street railway
directors who have the park In hand.
rose before his mind. and he de-
terTnincd to do or 10 die. Rushing
forward he seized the puma's
tail In both hands. and muttsred be-
tween his set tseth-'April Il"