LIONS ESCAPE

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIONS ESCAPE

Bolted Doors. : : Screams of Women.

Townspeople Flee in Terror.

Three lions escaped from a cage at tho carnival fair ground at Darlington, says a London paper, and during their hour’s freedom terrorised householders and scattered pedestrians in all directions. Darting from tho show ground after a holt in the cage door had. it is believed, been loosened by youths, the lions made off in the direction of the town. News quickly spread that they were at large. Women and children —- and men returning from work—lied !o safety. Many ran into shops, Iho doors of which were quickly bolted. Race to Safoty. Leo, one of Hie animals, got as far as the main road, Jumped over a garden fence, and. pulling his head 111 rough Iho silling- roan window of n house, gave the occupanls. who were al dinner. I hi* shuck of t h oil* lives. I Before Im reaeiii'ii iiie house Leo wallu d round Hie p: rk. and sent a man. I'lOhel'l Major, who was repairing Ihe gates, racing to safety.

| Another lion, Bex, climbed on to a I glasshouse roof, which collapsed be- ■ nealli his weigh 1, and lie was im- ' prisoned in Ihe structure until roped i and caged by Hie showmen, j Meanwhile, all Ihe occupanls of I adjoining properly were locked in up- | stairs rooms of llielr houses. | Children ‘screamed in terror, and j many mothers collapsed, j The liherly of ihe third lion was brief. lie had only got a few yards from home when lie ran under Hie caravan, and was rccnplured. j Mrs Brown, at whose house one of Iho lions put his head Ihrougli an j open window, slated that she and her son were frightened out of their wils. I “1 was greatly concerned for Ihe ( safely of my oilier son. Neville, who was playing in Ihe street. II lurnml out dial he was unaware that I lie lions had escaped.” C-apl. Tom Keyes, owner and (miner , of Ihe lions, explained (1 11 1 Ihe animals ' were normally docile Iml shoiilmg and ehasiiu.' bo scores of iconic made i Item frglilened ami s.iviue enough lo a I lick an.'one elm niiglil approach too near.