A LION AT LARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17455, 5 February 1925, Page 1

A LION AT LARGE.

BREAK AWAY FROM CIRCUS. EXCITEMENT AT HAWERA. (Special to the “Star.”) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 4. “ .Mummy, there’s a big dog in the back yard, " cried a tiny tot as he rushed into his mother's house, not old enough to realise that Leo the lion, and the king of beasts, was wrathfully tearing around the cabbage patch trying to evade recapture by his keeper. r l'h© lion Mas too intent upon Ibo much notice of the child or the consequences might have, been disastrous, lor the brute was furiously angry and charged at his keepers several times before lie was smothered with a carpet and finally secured. The occurrence took place a I Ha '■ (-in. A travelling circus had pitched near the gasworks and a young lion and lioness not much more than a year old, but fully grown, were rehearsing ring tricks. Without warning. I lie lion. instead of jumping through a lioop, sprang with wonderful agility io- the lop of the side of the cage, a height of about 16ft, and paused there for some time before making his final plunge for liberty. The attendants rushed for a pole to push him back into the cage, but Deo sprang to the- ground and bounded off in the direction of a private cottage close to the gasworks. A crowd of people gathered about the cireus watch - ing the animals scattering pell-mell in every direction, but the lion made straight for the hedge surrounding the cottage and cleared it into the garden, to the consequent surprise and wonderment of the small boy. The circus attendants made great efforts to capture the now wildlv-ex-eited animal, but to approach it required no little nerve. A carpet was requisitioned. While the attendants were trying to ensnare the lion in its I olds, the beast fiercely charged them several times. Finally the carpet was thrown over the brule, which exeried all its great strength to get free. len men were all but inadequate to bold Hie linn down, but a collar was at lasf fastened about ils neck, and it was dragged back to its mate in the cage, very much to the relief of the neighbourhood.