Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-18

New York. Dec. 17.-Six trained lions escaped from their cage on the stage of an East Eighty sixth street vaudeville theater today and, bound ing into the audience, consisting prin- cipally of women and children, caused a panic.
 Lion in Crowded Street.
 One lioness, Alice. the largest of the troupe, escaped into a crowded street. Policemen pursued her into the hall way of nearby apartment house and in shooting at her probably fatally Glenn. Two other officers were slight ly wounded by the claws of the beast in a battle at close range
 Many in Audience Transfixed.
 At sight of the lions, hundreds of persons in the theatre fled, screaming, to the exits. Mothers, delayed by gathering up their children. crowded into corners and places of supposed safety. Scores fainted, and many, numbed by the sight of the animals among them, sat transfxed in their seats.
 Only One Beast Showed Feroeity.
 With the exception of Alice. none of the beasts displayed great ferocity. A few persons who got in their paths were scratched, but none of them was seriously hurt.
 Roamed Over Theatre for an Hour. Five of the animals still were loose E in the theatre when the last of the audience escaped. In their rush to wearing apparel and personal belong ings. Then for an hour the beasts roamed over the house from gallery to basement. But when they finally were rounded up in the lobby and driven into their shipping box none of them was injured.
 Three Arrests for FeIinious Assault.
 Three arrests, charges being felonious assault, pending the outcome of the injuries of the wounded persons, were made. Those in custody are La Belle l Andree, the lions trainer; c. A. Turn | quist, their keeper. and George H. Hamilton, manager of the attraction, The lions were owned by Francis Ferari, snowman who had been ex- i hibiting them at carnivals during the summer.
 Lions Were Being Transferred.
 The animal act had been completed and a song and dance Quartette held the stage in front the first drop when | the lions escaped. They were about | to be transferred from the steel ex- hibition cage to their shipping box al the time.
 Lion Pesred at Singing ouartetts. | According to Turnquist, they became | excited, rushed out of the steel cage and, knocking their shipping box aside were free behind the scenes. Madame Andree screamed, Turnquist grabbed 6 whip, cracked it loudly and shouted al | the lions, and frightened actors and actresses and theatre attaches began | climbing stairways. One of the lions I Tn-- IA e,, the Quartette. The singing ceased abruptly.
 As the singers started to retreat int | the wings, Detective Peter Cahill, whC was in the audience, saw the lion ana shouted to the entertainers to go on One singer returned and began a solo Suddenly a lion came into full view and all control of the audience wa. lost.
 Orchestra Played Until Lions Were ir
 The orchestra. nevertheless, contin. ued to play. The first lion ambled up, on the stage. then second, and In ( minute more several of them werI clambering into stage boxes and ou into the audience. Still the orchestra kept playing. until several lions cam, right down into the pit. Then the mu' sicians lied under the stage. | Number of Different Versions.
 Almost everybody in the audienc, l later had a different version of wha. | the animals did after they got amon[ the crowd, but nearly all account agree that they did not live up to thu dangerous name of the '1Sing O. beaats." Edward J. Nitzburg said tha by the timo he grasped the situation Hon was so near him that he thought I best to sit still.
 though the lion passed up and down the aisle near him six times. he wa
 One Man cIawsd.
 One of the beasts caught up wftl Mark McDermott while he was hurry, ing down an aisle so he lay down. Tn animal clawcd him on the head ant his wound appeared to be the mos dangerous that any of the beasts In nicted. He was taken to 2 hospital.
 Firsmen Rescue Women.
 The last of the audience to leave tn, theatre We're several women fount sooped up in a second floor dressing room. They signalied fremen from nearby engine house. who carried then down ladders to safety.
 Lloncss Peked liar Head ina Saloon
 A throng was gathered outside tn, theatre when Alice emerged and trot ted slowly across tho street. Ono stor. l was that when she pokod her heaG into. a saloon a man came up and pat J tad AeT. Reaching the corner O