The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-26

Blackburne says, that the man IN
charge of the lions got a case Of fright
himself. and opened the doors Of all
the cages. But one of the lions took
advantage Of the offered opportunity;
he sprang from his cage and 20 the top
Of a pile OF refuse near the quarters.
He stood there. a picture of terror. with
eyes and ears alert 10 every impress
sion: his tail was stretched straight
behind him. his name stood on end. He
stood there n moment, and then, as
the crowd closed in around him or
broke in flight. broke himself and took
refuge ir- a shed. The policemen started
in TO fire at him. and he ran from the
shed and. under cover of the smoke and
general excitement, managed 10 make
his way into the stable where an old
Irish woman kept her COW.
Pounded With Broom.
He jumped at the COW, and the Irish
woman saw him. For a moment she
did not realize the identity OF her un-
expected visitor. and with the broom
she CHANGED to have in her hands be-
gan an indignant attack upon the lions
ribs. She thought It was big dog, and
certainly had no idea of permitting any
dog to modest her cow When she at
last understood her mistake she was
overcome with fright, left the stable in
hurry. and locked the door behind
her.
Under such circumstances the lion
was incapable OF doing any further
carnage. and could easily have been
captured and boxed had the showmen
been notified. But the damage had been
done, and the next morning a neighbor
cut a hole in the roof o. the shed and
shot the lion with a rife"
Perhaps the most easily frightened OF
all the animal kind are the gigantic
elephants, a herd of which can be
| transformed into a very sea Of riot and
confusion by the smallest tri1e. Mr..
Blackburne has n score of anecdotes
that prove this fact. and show what
| possibilities Of serious danger to large
numbers of persons reside in such
| chance mishaps-
In Troy, n. y" he told the man
! from The Sunday Times, 1.-THE show suf-
fered an experience of this kind that
cost the owners $4,000 or 5000. There
was a coach dog. belonging to some one
about the menagerie, that used 70
amuse itself by playing around the
feet of the elephants. In some way
he managed to brighten one of the herd
and without n moments warning, the
/ hig fellow dashed through the tent and
out into the night. He was sought for
everywhere, We thought, but was not 70
be found. and the show had 70 go on,
leaving man to bring the elephant on
when he was found.
Scared by Molten Iron.
1T was not until this man caught AZ
with the show, bringing the elephant
with him, that we learned anything o.
the animals experiences that night. HI
had found a country road. It seemed
and dashed along 1t, still frightened. anC
IN all probability frightening every
man, woman and child that noticed tina
/ huge mountain Of flesh moving swiftly
! along. Out In the suburbs he reached
( the neighbornood Of rolling mill, and
/ attracted by the bright light and IN,
signs OF human activity, made briskly
for Il.
The puddlers were at work, the mott
en- metal was all about, and great bar
OF steel and iron. heated TO white heat
spanned the floor in every direction. Tn,
elephant, with his fright intensified b.
this strange scene. did not hesitate ,
minute. but dashed through, scatterinl
the puddlers in CONSERVATION and scar
ing even his thick coat on white-ho
bars. He went far out into the countr!
before he stopped and was nnall.
caught.
When he finally turned up he was a
much chastened In spirit as any elephan
| whose acq daintance 1 ever enjoyed. H
wasn't very handsome TO look at, but II
meekness and good behavior he NOR