A Lion Loose in the streets of Defiance. A Cow Affords Him A Delicate Meal.
W.W. Cole's Circus and Menagerie exhibited in Defiance. In the evening after the show was out the animals and other goods were loaded on cars (trains)at the Wabash depot preparatory to shipment west. As the train containing cages was passing the large coal chutes in this place one of the chutes caught the cage containing the two lions. In an instant, before the situation could be comprehended, the cage was so badly broken that out walked the largest African lion and leisurely trotted down the railroad tracks towards the station. By this time the attaches of the menagerie were on hand and quickly secured the other lion and cast for a way to capture the fugitive. The lion went several squares, until he reached a barn on the premises of Adolph Miller. The upper half of the door was open, and inside was a cow. Scenting this nice morsel of food, with a slight roar, the lion sprang, over the door and leaped upon his victim. He seized the cow by the nose and crunching it he held on, sucking at its life blood. The cow bellowed fearfully, but was helpless in the tolls of the monster of the forest. The lion continued at his work until he had obtained all the blood and the cow was dead, when he went to a corner of the stable and lay down on a bundle of straw.
How to capture the lion was a puzzle for the showmen. Prof. Conkling, the great tamer (who by the way had only a few hours previously entered the den containing same lion) was sent for. He took the situation at a glance, and instructing the men to get the cage off the cars and quietly to run it along side of the barn, he armed himself with a couple of revolvers, a stout club and a whip and started upon what he regarded as a perilous undertaking. He entered the stable by means of the hay loft and commenced calling the lion. A growl was the only answer for some time. He continued talking until the beast finally recognized the voice, when Mr. Conkling boldly down in the lower part of the barn and hunted his pet. He caressed the animal -got it under complete control, when he had the doors opened and quietly called and drove the beast into the cage. He was quickly secured, but when he found his liberty was again restrained he became furious and it was with great difficulty that the cage could be made sufficiently strong to hold him. Prof. Conkling informed the bystanders that he would not dare enter the cage for several days, or until the lion perfectly quiet.
While the lion was going down the railroad track towards the barn he was actually met by two of our citizens, John Snyder, engineer of the pump house, and John Sauber, baggage master at the Wabash depot. Mr. Snyder says he did not realize what it was until afterward and then naturally he was much frightened. Mr. Sauber says he supposed it was a big yellow dog until he got opposite the beast, when he saw what it was, and wished he was back in the depot. Another gentleman saw it and climbed in a freight car where he remained all night in moral fear. Really, it wasn't as nice as a playful kitten to fondle and caress.
The showman paid Mr. Miller twenty dollars for the loss of the cow.
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