A TERRIFIC FIGHT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2208, 1 February 1886, Page 2

A TERRIFIC FIGHT.

A terrific fight between the large elephantßolivjir and an untamed Nubian lion named Prince, occurred at the winter quarters of a circuß at Philadelphia, on Monday afternoon, which resulted in the d.eath of the latter. The-lion only arrived frtra abroad ■

worth 2,000 dollars. He was placed in an unusually strong cage in , the animal ' i house, and the training began,- The Wsfc was too ferocious in disposition to pjwit of the entrance of tho trainer cage until it hail been sufficiently subdued with the prod and lash. On Monday 'the trainer unlocked tho door for the k first time and entered, . For, a few 1 minutes all went well. At last he struck " the lton with Ins whip and the enraged beast raised his powerful paw and struck at him. The man jumped aside and'porhaps escaped discmbowelment, b.ut sustained a fearful laceration of the thigh and leg. Then the lion prepared to spring at him, and tho trainer jumped backward with such force as to break the bars of the cage from .their fastenings. He fell out backward on the ground and for '» moment was stunned, This proved to baik. ' - a fortunate accident, for the lion bounded through the open cage door, and, alighting a considerable distance beyond where the man lay, did not turn back, but rushed out of the building, He pursued his way through the ring to . the barn, and entered the open door oftho elephant house. Bolivar stood nodding where he was chained to a stake near the door, Princo hesitated for a moment and then lay back on his haunches, He crept slowly forward until he was within reach ofthe elephant. Then ho raised his paw and struck at the supine trunk. The tough skin was sonieivhat torn, W the pachyderm became fully awakoH&l raising his trunk, made a blow atrhe ■ lion; but the lion escaped it .by springing backward. . PrinCe crouched again aud prepared to spring. Quick as a lightning flash was the movement which landed him Jon the elephant's head. But lie had to .deal with a power greater than his own over which his only advantage was liis agility, , » Bolivar easily shook him off, and tossed him to some distance.

_ The contest was quickly decided. : Tho lion prepared for another spring. He lay back on his haunches, and with ears flattened against his head and eyes gleaming like balls of fire, crept forward stealthily, .cautiously measuring the distance. With a suppressed growl tho lithe, tawny form shot through the air,' The elephant's trunk was turned over hli back, and his .black eyes were snapping viciously. With a motion so quick as to be almost imperceptible the proboscis was lowered and elevated twice, and then came down with terrific force, striking tho lion as he was in mid-air, and he fell to the graund stunned. Before he could recover, the elephant dealt him a terrific blow in the side, and reaching forward full length of his chain, he drew thjaion towards him, and lifting his free foUjfjia leaned the whole weight of his body on his fallen foe. The effect was to crush in the ribs of the conquered monarch of the forest In this manner he trampled over the lion until life was gone, Even then he did not cease, but continued to trample the body until it was crushed almost to a jelly. Then he raised' it with his trunk and tossed it to the other end A of the stable. ■ Bolivaj- sustained no injury, except (f? small contußionon the head and on the trunk.—New York Herald.