Evening journal., 1900-08-15
BOSTOCK SAVED
MADAM MORBLLI
Fought Maddened Lions and
LeOpardS Alone in
the Arena

Madame Morelli, the leopard tanner,
who exhibited in the midway during the
Elks' Carnival in this city during the
week of June IS, was saved from almost
certain death on Monday. night in Allan
tic City by Frank c. Bostoek, owner Of
the Atlantic City Zoo.
Mr.. Bostock, TO save some Of his most
valuable animals from injury, as well as
to rescue Madame Morelli, placed his
own life in peril and evinced magnificent
courage. The lions with which Captain
Bonavita performs had gotten into the
great exhibition cage, in which Madame
Morelli had been feeding her leopards,
and he conquered the beasts.
Business had detained Mr.. Bostock late
IN his private office. 1t was fortunate
that he was there, for otherwise there is
little doubt Madame MorelH would have
been torn to pieces by the animals, which
had engaged in terrific battle among
themselves.
Nearly everybody has left the building
when Mr. Bostock heard a shrek.
4 MADAME MORELLI SAVED.
Y In second he reached the arena He
saw Madame Morelli, with her hand on
he half-open door. in the act Of stepping
N among the fighting lions and leopards.
lie knew this would be certain death, and
ne thrust her aside. Then he himself
ftepped into the cage.
Madame Morelli had allowed her leop-
rds to take their meat in the arena. con-
srary to her usual custom. Contrary also
10 that custom, their last meal of the
litrhf lnI !.
ions had had theirs.
Professor Bonavita's animals are kept
between performances in dens barred
With heavy iron underneath the grated
age that encioses the arena In the floor
u the arena are trapdoors. through
which the animals enter and leave the
.rena. These trapdoors are supposed to
kept bOlted when not in use. but the
recaution had been neglected this time.
The lions began to roar, and their fierce
ppetite, excited by the odor Of the meat
hich the leopards were consuming
,lnsed them to leap against the traps.
These open upward and yielded to the
4 iolent impact. One after another the
F. iven African lions flung themselves into
ne upper enclosure.
Then commenced the fight for the pos
4 ssion Of the meat Although so much
4 mailer than the lions the lcOpards gave
agnihcent battle. The roaring and
larling Of the beasts was tremendous
I'd in it all the others in the menagerie
ti0n joined. The floor of the arena be-
me wet with blood.
One lion felled a leopard with a single
roke of his paw, and was about 10 finish
M when another leopard jumped upon
e lions back and fastened his teeth in
IS neck.
ALONE WITH THE BEASTS.
II was then that Bostock changed the
On CRATE behind him and stood alone
.nong the enraged combatants. He had
ught up a small wooden cudgel while
nning toward the arena. With this he
ID madly about him, trying to separate
Q fighting beasts.
The noise by this time aroused the
atchman, and he had summoned aid
rom every part OF the building came
rrying men with iron bars, whips, forks
d pistols.
Some one passed to Bostock a whip and
hay fork. Two lions were creeping to-
ard him and a leopard again made a
ip at his throat. he thrust with the
X and laid on with the whip with light
lg rapidity.
The blows told. Accustomed to being
wed, the wild beasts fell back and sui
NY skunk back against the bars Of the
ge. Bostock drove the lions to one side
the arena and the leOpards to the
ler Then the former were lashed and
AIDED toward the trapdoor that re-
lined open
Human will and the habit of discipline
nQuered. Growing and roaring, the
ms descended the slide to their cage.
3ostock had not received a scratch, but
teeth of the lions had sunk deep in
b small cub which he carried. He was
be when he backed out Of the big cage.
I the hand which closed the iron gate
] not tremble.
Madame Morelli, however, felt reac-
IN from the intense excitement that she
4 undergone the moment the danger to
~ pstock was over. She was yesterday
fering from exhaustion.