Bare-Handed Fight To Save Albert From Lion

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28386, 19 September 1957, Page 13

Bare-Handed Fight To Save Albert From Lion

(Rec. 10 p.m.) OXNAR (California), Sept. 16. Albert Leo Lee, aged 12, was saved by two men in a barehanded battle with a mountain lion yesterday. Albert was reported to be in Bond condition today. The lion, estimated to weigh 1501 b to 1751 b. was shot dead as it charged another person. It escaped from its cage at the home °f. Mr and Mrs Melvin Koontz, animal trainers. Mrs Koontz said she had raised the six-year-old lion as a pet from the age of two months and “it was the best pet I ever had.” Albert, a son of Mr and Mrs Albert Lee. was clawed on the head, face, arms and legs. The hospital said it took numerous stitches to close his wounds, but not seriously hurt. The boy’s parents told the police

they were visiting Mrs Lee’s brother, Mr Edward Emrock. yesterday when several other children ran up shouting: “The lion's got Albert.” Mr Lee and Mr Herman B. Evans, a Navy chief petty officer, said they jumped on the lion and nulled him from the boy. A ■bystander. Lewis Flores, aged 32. handed a .32 calibre revolver to Mr Emrock. Mr Emrock said he pulled the trigger as the enraged lion started for him, “but all I heard was a click.” “I panicked and started to run. Mr Emrock said, “but then I looked back and saw the lion in the air jumping for me. I pulled the trigger again and this time the gun fired, hitting the lion He fell only four feet from me. and I made sure he was not going to get up by firing five more shots into him.”