TIGERS AND LIONS LOOSE IN HOLIDAY RESORT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18008, 19 November 1926, Page 1

TIGERS AND LIONS LOOSE IN HOLIDAY RESORT.

STARTLED VISITORS FLEE FROM STREETS. (Special to the “ Star.”) PARIS, October 25.^ Visitors to the little town of St Amand les Eaux, a summer resort near Valenciennes, in Northern France, shared with the inhabitants an exciting experience the other evening, when eight lions, three tigers, a bear and two monkeys escaped from their cages in a menagerie, and caused panic in the streets. It was the last day of the local fair, and crowds of people were out enjoying the beautiful evening when they met the wild animals wandering in the principal streets. Panic-stricken, the promenaders took refuge in the nearest houses. A big lion suddenly entered a cafe. Everybody rushed ? upstairs, leaving the woman cashier alone, and she promptly fainted behind the counter. After a tour of the cafe, the lion jumped over the counter, smashing all the bottles, and disappeared. A tiger broke into a butcher’s shop, and ate all he could find, including several pies, before he departed. An aged woman awaiting the return of her family had left her door open, and was horrified on walking downstairs to see two lions in her diningroom. She collapsed in terror, and the noise of her falling put the wild beasts to flight. . . , . , , Another lion visited a hatter s shop, and was discovered by the shopkeeper lying quietly on a pile of hats. In the meantime the tamer and other employees of the menagerie, were searching for the beasts. After a chase which lasted all night, they were all captured by means of lassoos, and taken back to their cages, with the exception of a tiger which shaped to a neighbouring wood and was caught yesterday afte.noon, and a monkey which climbed up a pole on to a live wire and was electrocuted. The only people injured were two menagerie assistants, who were severely mauled by a tiger when they captured lt 'The animals did about 10,000 francs’ worth of damage in the various shops they visited.