The Washington herald., 1907-08-28

Pittsburg. Aug. H.-with a roar that
threw into a panic 1900 people. mostly
women and children. Cedar, an Afican
lion. escaped from his cage at Luna
Park this afternoon, and before he was
killed fatally injured Mrs. Anna Hueke,
aged sixty-four. Of rs Van Braam street.
-Four policemen fred fifty shots at the
animal before he was killed, and in the
fifteen minutes between his escape and
his death there was great excitement in
the park.
The lion belonged 10 an animal show
that came to the park this week Ar-
cording TO the managers. the beast has
been in captivity only a short time. and
was very savage. Attempts had been
made TO mate him, but they had been
abandoned. and the lion was used as g
free attraction in front OF the show.
Breaks Up hand Concert.
The animal show Is next to the musio
pavilion, and almost every one in the
park was listening 70 a band concert It
was at $50, and the lecturer was telling
OF the untamed Hon, when the animal
threw himself against the iron bars. and
they gave way.
AS soon as he found himself free, he
sprang toward the crowd. Mrs. Hucke
was at the front. and the beast alighted
beside her. brushing against her with
sufficient force TO throw her 70 the
ground Then with one blow Of HIS paw
he crushed every rfb in The woman's left
side. Before any one could interfere, he
sank his teeth into her hip. tearing out
piece Of flesh.
Park Policeman ". A. Downey was the
first man to the rescue. He fred a shot
at the lion. hitting him in the side. Leav-
ing the unconscious woman, the brute
turned to Downey. who fred another
shot into him, beating of his attack at
the same time with a club.
Policeman Bars the Way.
The lion turned from the officer and
made clear path for himself through
the crowd. he passed the music pa
vilon and started for the entrance OF the
park. City Policeman George Sheridan
had heard the shots and came running
into the park just in time 10 meet the
lion as It was about to ascend a long
fight of stairs that forms tile- entrance.
Sheridan opened FIRE on the animal, hit
ting him several times. and finally driving
him into a corner.
In the meantime Downcy had caught I'D
with the lion, and Park Policemen S. /.
Lenhart and Albert Green had also joined
in the chase. Surrounded by the four off,.
GERS, the lion fought desperately for his
life. AS fast as they could reload their
weapons the officers pumped lead into the
beast Il was not until fifty shots had
been fred. more than half Of which took
effect. that the animal toppled over. dead.
While the fight was in progress people
in the park sought every imaginable place
Of refuge, and it was only by a miracle
that many Of them were not trampled TO
death: but all save Mrs. HuCke ESCAPED
serious injury.
Rib Punctures Her Lung.
Mrs. Hucke was hurried TO the Emer-
gency Hospital in the park, and an am
bulance was summoned from the HOmeo-
pathic Hospital There it was found that
every rib on the side had been broken,
and that one of the ribs ha6 punctured
the lung. This wound viii cause death.
The doctors do not think that she will
live through the night. There is also a
deep wound in her hip. the muscles be-
ing torn away, and should she recover
she would probably lose her leg In ad-
dition to these injuries, her right arm was
broken by the blow.
The skin OF the animal viii be stuffed.
He was a large specimen, and the own
ers valued him at s1,001