CAPTURING A LEOPARD. How an Escaped Menagerie Beast was Captured.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 4 (Supplement)

C APTURING A LEOPARD. How an Escaped Menagerie Beast was Captured.

Considerable excitement was created in and about the winter quarters of Robinson's circus on Poplar-street, near John, about seven o'clock one evening recently. A young African leopard had managed to escape, and was making things decidedly lively. In the extensive winter quarters are all the animals carried by the show. Among these is a little Mexican pony, which runs at liberty about the place. At the hour above named Mr Pony was cavotting about with the elephants. Near where the latter animals are chained is the leopard's cage. When the pony chanced to make itself somewhat obnoxious to one of the elephants, one of the latter beasts gently tossed the diminutive equine over against the leopard's lair. Like a flash the spotted beast of the jungle jumped for its prey. Out came a foot, and almost simultaneously the claws were sunk into the unfortunate prey's left side, lacerating the flesh in a frightful manner. In making the jump for the prey the leopard caused a couple of the iron bars in the front of its cage to give way. It was only a moment's work to tear away bars enough to permit of its escaping. This was effected whilefifteen men were working about the stable. Upon gaining its liberty, however, the leopard, instead of making for human prey, started tok nock up an elephant theiir.st thing. The task was a little more than it was equal to, for in the second round with a littlo elephant named Cincinatus the leopard was forced to withdraw with a badly crippled forepaw, which had resulted from the doxterous working of the elephant's trunk,

Upon being injured the leopard slunk: into a corner of the barn,, where it crouched down to nurse its injured limb. By this time the escape had become known to the men about the place, and the dangerous work of recapture was begun. In crouching in the corner the leopard had permitted its tail to stick out under a gate which opened out into the street. L'liis was noticed by one of the elephant tamers named John. Miller. Cautiously going around to the place from which the caudal appendage protruded, Miller seized it. The leopard thus brought to terms, with its tail under the door, was held tightly by Miller and another, whose combined efforts were requhed to keep the brute from pulling away. The leopard howled and gnashed its teeth to no purpose. Then came the rather novel plan of catching the beast so that it could be placed back in its cage. A lart>e box, with one end out, was procured. Through the other end a rope was passed. A noose was then made and thrown about the enraged biute\> neck. Iho signal was given for Miller and his as'-i-tanth to let go^t.he tail, and the animal diagged into the box which had been placed near to it. The work of putting the leopaul back in its ongo was easily accomplished, and the excitement subsided. When the fact of i>heanimals> having escaped I'cciinc kmnwi in the neighbourhood the v> ildust icai h\\ol c entertained, but fortunately no t-eiioiid damage resulted, the pony being the only sufferer to any ox tent.