The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-26
LION KILLS HIS MATE.


st. Louis post-Dispatch.
Without a sign of remorse in his bleary.
blinking eyes, Barnum, the largest lion of
the tribe of African monarchs of the forest
in Ferarris zoo, looked out from his cage
this morning upon the skinning of Spitfre,
his latest mate, and also his latest victim
Perhaps the long, deep scratch on his
of tawny name helped his conscience in
the mater, for that is a mark left by Spit
fire.
fifth victim, and that therefore the novelty
of killing was worn away and without
power to arouse him from a feeling of
ennui, dulled his conscience.
Or perhaps he hasn't any conscience.
At any rate, he merely looked on while
Spitfire was being skinned and before the
task was finished he yawned. rolled over
on his side, crossed his paws and went to
sleep.
Barnum killed Spitfire after a desperate
battle at the dead hour OF o'clock in the
morning. She had been brought to his
cage nine hours before and he had not OBJ
jected. They had passed a pleasant even
ing, and at midnight were numbering round
and round the cage, growing contentedly
and giving, to the best of their ability.
considering the limited area over which
they were permitted to roam, an imitation
of prowl for prey in the African forest.
Captain Cardona, their trainer gave them
a goodnight look, and went to bed in the
back part of the barn.
An hour later CardOna was awakened by
the Waterman, who called to him that Bar
mum and Spitfire had fallen out, and that
they were beginning to fight. Cardona
for he knew that Spitfire would probably
lose in the fight, and she was a 81 900
performer, he didn't care to have that
happen.
AS he started he knew he was too late
The terrific growls of the pair of lions told
him that the fight was on.
When he reached the cage both animals
were fighting with all their strength and
ViciOuSnpSS Rarnum carried battle
into the far corner of the cage; there Spit
fire was at bay, but not dismayed. AS
Barnum struck she struck back, parrying
and trying to land knockout or tear a
cash with her great claws.
Cardona yelled and jabbed at the fighters
with his pronged stick. 1t was no use; he
simply goaded them to greater vicfousness.
Presently Spitfire thought she saw her
chance, and, rising on her hind legs, swept
her left paw at Barnum's head. Her blow
landed, and a four-inch cut, deep enough
to bury mans finger in the wound, was
opened at the edge of the yellow name.
But IL was Spitfire's death stroke; for
Barnum sprang at her throat before she
could recover from the blow, and four
great tusks, meeting two and two, closed
through her windpipe.
Her growl was choked. Barnum held to
her throat as she fell, growing more deeply
than before. He continued to hold on until
after her kicks had ceased. and despite the
efforts of Cardona and his helpers to beat
When Spitfre was quite still on the floor
of the cage, Barnum loosed his hold,
lifted up his great head and gave forth a
howl that shook the roof. He was utterly
impervious to the proddings of the sharp
stick until after this howl and three 9TH
ers that followed 1T had echoed their way
through the rafters. Then he retreated sui
lenly to the other end of the cage.
A heavy partition was pushed into the
cage, separating Barnum and his victim.
Spitfire was dragged out hurriedly I'm the
hope that she might be saved. But she
was quite dead. Her jugular vein was
pierced, and even II that had not been
| fatal, she was strangled.
In his seven years existence as a MEM
Der of Ferrari's menagerie, Barnum has
killed three of his own cubs and one of his
mates Nellie. None of them gave him the
| fight that Spitfire gave.
Barnum also has the distinction of hav-
/ ing almost torn the arm off of trainer
| Albert Stanley. who. at Akron, o.. at
tempted to show his ability to handle the
| animal