SEVEN LIONS AT LARGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 12

SEVEN LIONS AT LARGE.

SCENES .IST LEIPZIG,

An 'extraordinary scene of panic <X* enrred in the town of Leipzig, 111,001matty, shortly atter muhught on October 20, When seven lions ilmt a tiger 110111 Ikrnmtt's cireus escaped from their travelling cage as the result ot a collision with an electric trumwrty car. There was a thick fog at the tune of the lions' escape. A Bamtni circus wago.ll containing seven lions aw, a tiirer stopped 011 the tram lines, aw a tramcar which was coining up from bc : liind- ran into it. Tart of the side o"r tho wagon was knocked out, by the iorto of the collision, and the lions, accompanied by tho tiger, promptly te.ols advimtafo of their unexpected liberty. Titer sprang out. and there was instantly a wild' panic in the streets, leoplo., realising the danger, rushed screaming into restaurants and cafes and inle atiy open door they could find, iho lions rait aimlessly about, growling ausi threatening fugitive pedestrians. One boast'jumped 011 to tho horses, attaches to the wagon, hut was frightened oil. 11l a very few minutes a force ot police, sixty strong, and armed with rcv-olyeiß, came upon the «cene, and the 11011s soon found that they were tho wirsjicd instead of bring the pursuers. One lion jumped over a hedge into a gnrdcvl, sniet. was there killed by a hail 01 inilMn from the revolvers. Tlu'ee beasts ran . down the Street, the police MoinnK, i firing their revolvers. Ob© oi llk annuals was killed, but two finding a In tel with its door stand, invitingly open, tl.ir.lled asiiw, and, to the oonstornatioii of the guests ~n.. servants, rushed lip tins mam t.tnm.ioC. The wildest terror and excitemen, puvailwl while they rambled about, tho hotel. One, alter breaking imfo J. b.d room, was driven into a Kiyatory, : id the other made his way mu< an ' l ''i.... The waiters managed to lock tlis tlou , anil nmdtt 'iiiui a prisoner, lioth aiunuii s were ultimately captured alive by means of nets. The worst of the cstvaordmary situation was that owing to the fog »o»od.v liiwnv what was Wpmnng or liuw many lions were loose, w ni which directum the pollen were firing. , The chase lasted till four 0 clock m tho morning. Tho proprietors wile, who is a lion tamer and well know n ibi animals; rushed after the poke imploring them nut to shoot her petsBut thn 'police were pitiless, aim hioii a brisk volley from their, revolves at every ltoii that came hi sight till all were killed except tho two captured in the hotel It must be accounted an extraordinary stroke of liTck that no damage was done to anybody ciUiei bj lions or biwiets. The lion which sprang on to tho horse's back was plwkilv driven oft, li> the driver with his whip. Ills tiger showed no. desire for freedom, mid was soon coaxed intii a wagon by tho lady tamer. , . , r ~ Fivo lion» were iwost of tn^m kilU riddled with hit jets. One was killed villi si- single ball oii the rrvh'tt uy line Even when all tlw lions were accounted for it was some time before it could bo ascertained how many had got away. TII.O excitement and alarm kept the quarter sleepless till daylight.