The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-01
LIONS ROAR LED
TO WILD RUMORS
Prince, at the Bijou, With Aid Of.
Dummy, Caused Some
Excitement.

This would have been a good story If
it had happened. It's all about a lion
who did not escape; how the keepers of
ana MANNED; how women and children did
not shrek and how there was no panic.
1t all did not happen at the lBijou where
Lafayette, ilusionist and all-'round en-
tertainer. is this week showing his Won
derfui Illusion, ..'The Lions Bride
What did happen was due to the fact tina t
mis- majesty, Prince-that is, the lion
snorted once or twice and did a. couple of
handsprings in his cage, and then went
away back and sat down. Coupled with
the vivid Imagination of a small boy, this
was sensational.
Prince roared and did his handsprings
last evening about half past Z o'clock.
a group OF entranced small boys We're
standing around the stage door of the
Bijou at the time, watching the actor
folks go through the door. Just after the
roaring the stage door was opened for a
moment, and a bold small boy glanced
in to see the form &C a man lying hcaped
UP in a chair beside the lions cage,
while Prince was doing a. few warming
up acrobatics.
The man was q wreck. His right leg
was under his left car. his blood-red face
had a scrambled appearance, as If he
had tried to stop a trolley-car with 1t,
and one arm was torn off and was; three
feet away. The small boy saw and gasped
as the door closed with a bang.
Hey, fellows" he shouted breathlessly.
"the lions killed a man; cEawed him all
up,''
''W.hatcher giving us?'' asked another.
Sure. Didn't see the body? Look,
there it is!''
This last as the door swung open again,
and the score of small boys crowded up.
The door opened to let out man who,
i'm ti.s constitutional pursuit 90 happi-
ness, was innocently rushing the growl-
er" concealed in a, small basket.
II guess he's going for the DOCTOR,
said the boy.
The man glanced furtively up and down
the street and started rapidly away. In
stantly the crowd joined on. The man
looked embarrassed. Others began to
crowd around him. The man looked en-
barrassed some more and tried to dodge
into an open gate.
Hey, mister how'd the lion kill that
man?' asked the small boy.
What's that" asked the man.
How'd he do it?" The crowd was
breathless.
oh, jest bit off a chunk The man
went up the street whisting.
Instantly rumor flew like the wind.
The small boys scattered like chaff, re-
joicing in the possession of their dread
full secret. In a moment everybody in
the neishborhood knew about it. One
man, possessed of an inquiring spirit.
dashed madly into the lobby of the Bijou
and collared Manager Mckee.
Lions killed man." he gasped.
The which has done what?' asked
Mr.. Mckee.
Lion. man, killed.
Mr. Mckee proceeded to the stage door.
He neither ran nor walked; his method
OF locomotion was strange and ungainly,
but he arrived there several seconds
ahead of schedule and dashed madly on
the stage, followed by the inluiring spirit.
AS he dashedi in he stumbled over a
dummy of man used in one of the
acts in the bill and stood prepared to
sell his life dearly. He glanced wildly
around; the most exciting thing in sight
was a stage hand playing she loves me,
she loves me not as he peeled a banana.
Prince. the dread king Of beasts. was
snoring peacefully in his cage. Mr.. Nc
Kee had to take a poker to wake him,
after which he walked back to the front
of the house, where he stood and an
swered questions all evening.
But it would have been Il good story
if it had happened.