The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-07-04
CIRCUS LION ESCAPES
DURING PERFORMANCE
Makes Escape from Arena in Wild
Animal Show.-People Display
Presence of Mind.
"Don't move"
uNo+ a cou1 must stir"

"Not a soul must SUR.
"Be calm and avoid a stampede"
These words uttered in s~tentorian
tones by Chief Trainer b. D. Dennis
and observed to the letter by the oc-
cupants of the lefthand reserved seat
section at the Al G. Barnes circus last
night prevented what would ordinarily
have proved a serious panic.
The tent was taxed to its capacity
to witness the evening performance.
and the program had been effectively
carried out when near the end of the
card, a lion stunt had been successful
ly carried out in a large lion cage
which occupied what would be the CEN
ter ring of a three ring circus. The
hot weather had put many of the an
imals in a mood none too pleasant and
they evinced an ugly disposition and
were slow to respond to the command
of their trainer. However, the ami
mails were started out through the
runway connecting the display cage
with their private cages, and the ami
mails we're all safely enclosed save one
which presumably remained in the
chute.
After the wagons pulled away, the
lion leaped from the end of the chute
and calmly marched into the tent. His
appearance-was so sudden and the PEG.
pie so %unprepared for such an event
that fortunately none moved. Chief
Trainer B. D. Dennis at once realized
the seriousness of the situation anc
issued his commands. He was the per
s%onification of self control and ISSUED
his order in la General Foch.
The animal marched the entire
length of the lefthand section of thu
reserved seat section and at one time
was within ten or twelve feet of thu
main entrance and it looked for a mo
ment as if he would gain his freedom
With uplifted whip, Dennis walked
backward behind him and final,
halted the agile animal, which walked
and pranced by turns.
Finally, the animal turned and start
ed to retrace his steps toward the irol
cage. He walked along the netting
separating him from the people il
the reserved seat section, the occu
pants of which could easily have reach
ed out and stroked him.
"Don't move"
"Keep calm"
"For Gods sake sit absolutel,
quiet"
These and similar admonitions wer
uttered by Trainer Dennis. The ami
NAL slowly moved along, gradual,
drawing away from the reserved sea
section. Circus employees realized tina
a crisis was imminent and began form
ing a human runway for the ANNA,
The huge cage gate was throw
open quickly and hearing the rattl
occasioned by the clanking of the bars
the lion spied the opening and slun]
into his bastile. The band had cease
playing, and two of the most tens
moments imaginable had a happy end
ing. Men, women and children breath
ed a sigh of relief.
81 have been with circuses for sew
en- years and this is the first time a.
animal has got away from me" sal
Dennis, when seen later. The face o
the %trainor was white as a sheet o
paper, even then.
81 certainly wish to give the PEG
pie in that section credit for grea
presence of mind" continued Dennis
II have seen stampedes and panic
caused by far less ~pretentious situa
tions, and l was fearful that some on
would lose his presence of mind an
seek to gain a higher seat. Had thi
been attempted there is no doubt tina
the lion would sought to claw or cap
ture him. A mad scramble woul
have followed, and the outcome i
easily pictured, as circus seats do no
afford a very good race course. TIL
outcome was certainly gratifying an