The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-12-07

Miss Dore had no fears. Dressed in
the brilliant costume of Spanish shep-
herdess. with whip in her hand. she
hprang lightly into the den and took
her seat between two lions. Tie cage
was drawn by four white stations of
great beauty and apparently docile.
The first little tremor of nervous emo
ton had passed as the caravan began to
move through the crowded streets to
the music of the circus band. and the
amateur lion tanner. more interested
in the novelty of her position than The
applause of the multitude, was about
to try the effect of kindly menace
upon one of her pets, when she heard
unusual shouting and the car gave a
great lurch. The next instant she saw
two white horses turning in furious
gallop across the street, and she real
lied that the span of leaders attached
to the car had become frightened. Be-
fore she had time to move, the whole
team turned away from the procession
and started on a run down a cross
street, closely followed by the van be-
hind. The lions set up terrible roar
ing as the ponderous car bounded over
the rough pavement, throwing the ami
mails against the bars with great vic,
lence. The girl held her whip threat
eningly towards the terrorized beasts
managing to keep on her feet by hold
ing fast with one hand to an iron rod
She had hoped that the driver would
regain control of the frightened horses
but jolt more violent than those she
had already experienced threw the
man from his seat and she saw him fall
under the wheels. One of the horses
fell, and the other maddened brutes
dragged the car over him. stripping
the harness from his body.
The lions were now furious with
rage. Their eyes were glazing balls
of fire and foam was flying from their
cleaning white teeth. Miss Dore real
lied that the car was passing down a
steep hill. and. glancing ahead as best
she could, she caught sight of bridge.
Another instant of horror passed. and
the roaring waters of the Colorado
river, seemingly hundreds of feet be-
low the iron banisters of the bridge
swirled in the shadowy depth between
great walls of rock. One of the lions
fell against the despairing girl, throw
ing her across the cage, and as she
struggled to her feet she saw a man
on a black horse fairly whiz by the
car. She heard the hoofs of the horses
strike the floor of the bridge.
II lost all hope" says Miss Dore.
"and 1 anticipated horrible death in
the water with the maddened lions
struggling over my body" There was
a sudden crash, which threw both ami
mails sprawling against the forward
end of the cage, and the frightened girl
fell across them. Quickly regaining
her feet, she was in the act of grasp
ing the iron bars, when collection OF
reptiles crashed against the side of the
car Of lions. This cage was made of
glass, protected by iron rods. The
wheels of both cages interlocled and
the glass was shivered to atoms. The
lions sprang to their feet, roaring and
crashing their teeth. Miss Dore stood
in front of them with her whip, but she
expected them to spring upon her and
tear her flesh to fragments.
The cages were motionless. She
moved backwards slowly towards the
door, not daring to take her eyes from
the lions. A monster semi-nude negro
who occupied the den with the reptiles
howled in little less lower tones than
the lions. The terror-stricken Cir
heard a hiss, and then she saw the head
and red, forked tongue of the African
anaconda swaying between her and
the lions. They were mad enough be-
fore; now they were insane with rage
The snake was II feet long. and at leas!
half of the repulsive monster was al
ready inside the cage, seemingly just
n the act of striking. "My heart peat
and thumped," says Miss Dore, las if il
were about to burst. A minute hao
not passed since the cage stopped
but it seemed like year. prayed out
loud for help, and was surprised wher
ASoAo SOiSC saying. uc opi'i u
nearly open. I can wrench it loose.
| heard the noise of creaking iron ant
felt something take hold of my dres.
behind. Step right back, young lady.
said the voice, it will open enough fol
you to squeeze through l kept my
eyes on the lions and slid back through
the door. / heard the awful roar O
the lions and the kissing of the anacon
da as they all rolled upon the floor O
the den struggling in battle. My eye
were closed. but my ears were open t,
catch the words of the multitude.
Zone foot more and we would hav,
crashed over the bridge. He cangn
the horses with his lariat and the Gag
killed his pony as it fell against th
rail. 'Bravest cowboy ever lived'-'An,
he with one arm broke heardsall O
that and more" says Miss Dore, IAN,
realized that some brave man ha,
risked his life to save me from a hor
rible death. ] opened my eyes and
looked into the face of the brave youn.
man whom l married in the lions del
a few moments ago."-Chicago Trib
une.
Generous Eoemen.
Soult. the historian Napier tells us
<1~1n R~>1:--