Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

On Thursday of last week, during the heavy storm of wind and rain, while the extensive collection of wild beasts in the menagerie of Messrs. Raymond & Warring were in the Village of Norwalk, a feature was introduced in the exhibition not previously announced in the bills. About 4 o’clock in the afternoon, a violent wind blew down the canvass tent of the large pavilion, completely enveloping the spectators and cages of animals in one common mass of confusion. The accident happened at the time when Miss Adelina the Lion Queen, as she is styled, was performing in the den of wild beasts and as the fright of the animals rendered them seemingly uncontrollable, great fears were entertained for the safety of that interesting young lady. At this moment a scene of indiscribable terror and confusion presents itself. The roaring of the terrific beasts, the screams of women and children, and the “peltings of the pitiless storm” rendered the scene truly appalling. The panic however, was but momentary, as the prompt and energetic measures, taken by the managers soon cleared the wreck, no person having received the slightest injury. But the most interesting incident remains to be told. The uproar among the lions, tigers, and leopards in the performing cage, gave rise to a report that they were devouring Miss Adelina. In the next instant the canvass was stripped from the cage, when a tableau presented itself such as would defy either poet, painter, or sculptor to portray with accuracy. In the center of the den a young and beautiful lion, [the same presented to Gen. Cass by the Emperor of Morocco,] in the rampant position, formed the strong feature of the picture; beneath one of his hind feet lay stretched the dead body of a leopard, and struggling with the invincible grasp of his fore paws were the tiger and surviving leopard. In the opposite end of the cage, transfixed as a statue of marble, with dauntless eyes and majestic attitude, the same as when she commands the wild beasts to crouch at her feet, stood the Lion Queen, Miss Adelina. The young lady states that the two leopards and the tiger made a simultaneous spring for her at the moment the canvass was blown down, and was repulsed by the noble gallantry of the lion, which bounded between them and protected her in the manner described. The presence of the keeper, Mr. Pierce, soon seduced the savage group into subjection, the Lion Queen was happily relieved from further participation in this extra performance.-New York Express.