OCR Text |
Show Tigress and Lion in a Fierce Encounter was at its height, the ground covered with blood and the noise deafening. He fired off blank cartridges in the hope of frightening the animals into submission, but to no avail. Iron bars and sharpened spears were next tried but with no more success. Then buckets of water were thrown on th"? lion's bead bin be had tasted blood ami his frenzy made hir.i sink his teeth even deeper. As a last resort the chemical fire extinguishers were brought and after the contents were freely squirted over Romeo's head with no effect, a number num-ber of attendants held his head steady and the tube was inserted in. one of the distended nostrils. The charge, of carbonate of soda was too much for the gritty Romeo and with a rear be loosened his jaws and threw back his great head. The tigress leaped hiyh in the air in a fit of agony and Romeo would have nis.ied at her again but the attendants beat him bak into a corner with iron bars. The tigress sank in an almost lifeless life-less heap and was dragged from the arena to her cage. She will probably die. it will be several weeks before Romeo's fury will be abated sufficiently sufficient-ly to warrant hl'i being removed from his cage. There occurred the other day in the arena of New York's most important wild animal show a fight between two jungle mormrchs that was fiercely thrilling while it lasted, leaving in a terribly mangled condition both combatants, com-batants, one of whom will probably die. Romeo, a massive lion, and Anna, a tigress, were the participants in the bloody strife which was brought on by Romeo yawning impolitely in the lady tiger's face during a lull in a rehearsal. The trainer had led a number of animals into the arena and placed them on their stools. Then he left the circle for a moment during which time the mischief was wrought. Romeo Ro-meo got down from his scat and walked past the other animals over to the tiger's side. He stopped directly direct-ly in front of Anna and languidly yawned. Quick as a flash she sprang at. the lion's throat. Romeo tossed his head and avoided the teeth and while Anna was recovering her balance he leaped 'upon her. sank his teeth into her flank and bore her down. She got a grip on one of his legs while both of them struck blow after blow with their paws on each other's body. The other animals howled and roared, yet. strangely enough, none of them moved from his place, they seeming to be fearful for their own safety. When the trainer returned the fight |