MILD-MANNERED LIONESS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 1

MILD-MANNERED LIONESS

LOOTS A BUTCHER’S CART.

An anaemic lioness who escaped from a menagerie at Ilheims in France a few weeks ago has disgraced for ever the magnificent traditions of her kind, . She had been restive for some days, and when her keeper was stooping in the cage she gave him a gentle push, knocked him over, and escaped through the open door. She was somewhat bewildered by her sudden liberty, and in her excitement made a dash for the market-place, knocking down a small child on the way. The child —a particularly badtempered youngster —picked itself up, and threw stones after her.

This caused the lioness to hurry, and in her terror she came into collision .witli an old woman, who was knocked over by her superior weight. . Then a brave young man appeared in the way and said “Shoo I” where- . upon the lioness bulfetf dowifA^slde

street, causing groat consternation. Sho ovortook a butcher’s cart, and the butcher boy fled in terror, leaving his goods to the lioness, who stopped to enjoy a good round meal. Tlie butcher boy spread tho alarm that an entire menagerie was loose in the streets. The timorous shut themsolves up in the houses, but a

few of the braver spirits determined for the first time to enjoy the delights of big-game hunting. They were led by an artilleryman with a drawn sword, and several peasants with rook rifles and pistols brought up the rear. The lioness having finished her meal, strolled into the market-place, to the consternation of the womenshoppers, who were quite unaware of her peaceful intentions. Her pursuers did not da.ro to go near her, but several fired ineffectual shots from a distance. The mayor then camo on the scene, and pronounced the animal to be a particularly furious beast. He called out a squad of soldiers, and they, with the keeper of tho lioness at their head, came up with the beast in a blind alley. When the lioness saw her keeper sho ran up to him, and rubbed her head affectionately against him, before trotting home at his side.