Excitement in a Menagerie.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 176, 25 March 1873, Page 7

Excitement in a Menagerie.

| At a menagerie of Signori Bidel anti Fair- , nali at Turin, the audience were one evening | treated to a performance not announced in i the bills. Signor Bidel, the famous lion- | tamer, entered as usual a large cage, in which I were lions, lionesses, bears, hyenas, and a i lamb. After the feats of leaping, Ac., ordi- | narily shown in such exhibitions, the grand feature consisted in the simultaneous approach : of the wild animals to the lamb, and the exchange of “ the kiss of fraternity.” This ; was accomplished successfully, the animals methodically touching noses, then gravely i stalking back to their places. The performance was to close with putting the lamb's . head in the mouth of a lion. No sooner had | the jaws closed upon the head of the animal | than it was evident by the eyes and movo- | merits of the tail of the lion’that foul play j was threatened, and before a word of c<>m- ! mand could be given streams of blood were I running from his mouth. Children screamed and women fainted, hut fortunately the panic I was of short duration. Signor Bidel, with a tremendous blow on the throat of the lion and a shout of command, forced the half-wild animal to relinquish his victim, and, although roaring fearfully, he sullenly obeyed the fixed eye and gesture of his master, re firing into a corner of the cage. But, to the renewed horror of the people, in dealing with the lion he had turned his back upon the lioness, who, with a howl of rage, leapt upon his back. Fortunately for Bidel, her claws and teeth entered his clothing only, and with a spring and a cry lie leapt from under her, at the same time striking right and left with his loaded whip, forcing the animals to the front of the cage. There was an instant of hesitation and submission on the part of the latter, during which Bidel, revolver in hand, unfastened the cage, and backed himself out of it. Seeing him safe, the re-action of the audience was tremendous, and the cheers that greeted his appearance was deafening. Although perfectly quiet, the deadly pallor of his face gave evidence of the danger he had passed. A rope measuring 13 inches in circumference, 90 fathoms long, and weighing over 21 cwt., was lately manufactured in Auckland. The coach-fare from Winton to Kingston, a distance of seventy-five miles, is two shillings. This low rate is the result of opposition.