Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-14

men could close the door the lion sprang over
their heads into the street, where for the
time he was as free as in his native wilds
To approach him meant probable death, bat
in spite Of the danger the men tried to cap
tare him with the laSso-without success
Suddenly he turned back dashed through the
tent to the rear, pushed himself through
rift in the canvas and made of for the city
Of Birmingham.
On his way he came 10 q sewer opening
Down he went, roaring ferociously. In less
than 20 minutes every person in Birmingham
knew what had happened and the greatest
CONSERVATION prevailed. Fear was intensified
by the fact that the lion made his way
through the sewers he stopped at every
manhOle he came to and sent up succession
of roars that echoed until the earth seemed to
ring and vibrate with weird sounds, driving
people nearly wild with terror.
We were at our wits end. There was the
danger Of the Non escaping from the sewer
at any moment and killing some one for which
we would be responsible. There also the
danger that there would be riot among the
crowd Something had to be done and quickly
to allay public fear, if nothing more.
So we gathered as many Of our men as could
be spared from the show, put lion into q
large shifttng-cage and, covering the whole
thing with canvas in order that the lion should
not be seen. set of for the mouth of the
sewer, armed with ropes, pitchfoFks, pistols,
etc. We placed the cage at the mouth of the
sewer with the door facing it. We knew per-
fectly well that the lion would much prefer
his cage to the darkness of the evil-SmelIing
sewer, and 50 it proved.
With three Of the attendants the trainer
went several blocks back lowering ropes down
each Of the manholes along the way. Finally
he lowered himself through the third manhole
Then blank cartridges were fired horns were
blown, and we all shouted loudly as pos
Sibse. One Of the attendants had been in
stTucted at a given signal TO lift the iron door
Of the cage up and down quickly. and then
suddenly clap the door down with q yell of
triumph. Everything went of as scheduled At
the sound of the door closing, cry went up
from the crowd:
They've got him! They've got him They've
get the Ion!"
The cage containing the lion was then driven
quickly toward the menagerie with the trainer
and attendants seated top, followed by an
admiring crowd of thousands of people. Some
Of the men in the crowd rushed forward and
carried the trainer on their shoulders into the
nenagerie, while the cage containing the lion
which had never escaped was restored TO its
original place In the menagerie. Over 10000
people filed into the show until were COM
peeled TO refuse admission to any more.
MEANWHILE we were in perfect bath of
cold perspiration, for while the fears Of
the people were allayed for the time being, the
escaped lion was still in the sewer. He might
get out at any moment, or ne might roar again
and so advertise the fact that he was still at
liberty. AS soon as possible Trustworthy men
with iron bars were placed at the mouth Of
the sewer and as, fortunately, the lion had
stopped roaring. things were quiet for the time
Then three men accompanied ny the giant
bOarhound, Marco, lowered themselves into the
nanhole, crawling ON hands and knees, not
knowing at what moment they might happen
on the lion.
Suddenly Marco gave a sharp bark, followed
by a curious throaty growl Which told US that