Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

     Mr. John K. Markill, of Norfolk, St. Lawrence county, N. Y. returned home late, having been detained by a storm, and going out some time after to care for his team, was just in the act of opening his stable door when he was seized from behind by a panther, which attempted to grapple his throat, and he was carried to the ground, falling on his back. So sudden was the attack, that for a moment Mr. Markill was partly stunned, but quickly realizing his danger he attempted to draw his jack knife, at the same time calling loudly for help. In the meantime the animal had fastened his jaws on the side of his victim’s neck, but owing to the heavy collar of Mr. Markill’s coat, which was fortunatly turned up, and a fur collar around his neck, the animals teeth did not penetrate the flesh, although the pressure, as described by Mr. Markill, was such as to almost entirely prevent his breathing. His alarm brought to his assistance very soon a large and ferocious dog, which at once fastened on the throat of the formidable foe. The animal then turned on his new antagonist, and for a moment a terrific battle ensued. After a prolonged struggle, Mr. Markill succeeded in conquering the animal with a pichfork and the dog’s help. The panther measured from tip of nose to tip of tail seven feet five and a half inches, was a brownish color, with legs rather short, but thick and muscular.

     Locked in an iron cage, Mille Morrelli fought with an enraged leopard at the Philadelphia exposition grounds. The little French women conquered, but now lies in the University hospital with severe wounds in her left arm and breast.

     A story is told of a lion which was brought from India, and who on the passage grew very fond of a sailor who had charge of him. His name was “Nero.” On being shut up in a cage in London, he grew sulky, and was very fiece when any one came near him, so that it was dangerous even for the keeper to approach him.

     One day, a few weeks after Nero had been shut up in his new prison, a party of sailors visited the menagerie, and were warned by the keeper not to go near the lion, who every now and then growled savagely at those who were looking at him. All at once one of these sailors ran up to the cage, and thrusting in his hand cried out, “What! old shipmate! don’t you know me? What cheer, old Nero, my lad!”

     The lion instantly left off feeding and growling, sprang up to the bars of the cage, and put out his nose between them. Jack patted him on the head, and the lion rubbed his hand with his whiskers like a cat, showing evident signs of pleasure.

     “Ah!” said Jack, turning to the keeper and spectators, who stood frightened and in astonishment, “Nero and I were once shipmates, and you see he isn’t like some folks; he don’t forget an old friend.”