A MAN TAKES REFUGE IN A LION’S CAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 17, 28 April 1906, Page 14

A MAN TAKES REFUGE IN A LION’S CAGE.

A newcomer to the show onee had an experience that nearly cost him his reason. He had been warned never to enter the runway alone, but one day be did so while the animals were being exercised in the arena. He had reached the end and turned around when he heard the animals coming back. Panic-stricken he flew into one of the open cages, elosing the wooden door and holding or. to it for dear life. Meanwhile the lion-trainer was vexed to find that door closed. It was necessary to drive the lion beyond his cage, which meant that he would probably go beyond it another time and cause annoyance, if not actual danger. When the man inside the cage, frantic- with terror, begged the trainer to save him, the trainer understood. He shouted that he would drive the lion to the end of the runway, and then the man should slip out and run for his life, while the trainer would do his best to keep the lion back. This was done with difficulty, for the lion was puzzled and wanted to get into his cage. Finally it was accomplished, and the trainer shouted to the man to be quick. But the fellow had lost his nerve, and when he opened the door and saw the lion comparatively’ close he promptly went back. This was hard on the trainer, for the lion was beginning fiercely to resent being kept in the corner of the runway. To make matters worse the men in the arena, thinking the first lot of animals must now surely be in, turned others into the runway, and the trainer had the sensation cf knowing that, in addition to the aroused lion in front of him. three others were at his back.

There was only one way out of M. Shouting to the men to open the gates, be called to the imprisoned man to keep his door closed. With a sharp eraek of his whip he ordered the other animals to return, and with his back to the side of the runway managed by a dexterous turn of his whip to hit on the flank the lion he had been fighting. "With a wild bound the lion flew past, and then the trainer, having them all in front of him, drove them back into the arena. When the animals were safely in, he returned with others and released the man, whom they found huddled in the eage, nearly insane with fear. BOTH MAN AND TIGER RUN . FROM EACH OTHER. A funny incident, which might have been a fatality, occurred when one of the men was sent to wash out the arena. As it happened, two new tigers were to be turned in to be exercised. As the man got just inside the little door of the arena, a tiger walked in from the back. For a second man and tiger gazed at each other, both about equally surprised. Then the man dropped his pail with a crash and darted for the door in terror. Almost simultaneously the tiger, seared at the noise, started, turned tail, and dashed away. This was a narrow escape, and might have ended fatally.