Another, and a very good menagerie--the admission “only a penny!” It was
“GEORGE BALLARD’s _Caravan_,” with “_The Lioness that attacked the
Exeter mail._--_The great Lion._--_Royal Tiger._--_Large White
Bear._--_Tiger Owls_,” with monkies, and other animals, the usual
accessories to the interior of a menagerie.
The chief attraction was “_the Lioness_.” _Her attack on the Exeter
Mail_ was on a Sunday evening, in the year 1816. The coach had arrived
at Winterslow-hut, seven miles on the London side of Salisbury. In a
most extraordinary manner, at the moment when the coachman pulled up to
deliver his bags, one of the leaders was suddenly seized by some
ferocious animal. This produced a great confusion and alarm; two
passengers who were inside the mail got out, ran into the house, and
locked themselves up in a room above stairs; the horses kicked and
plunged violently, and it was with difficulty the coachman could prevent
the carriage from being overturned. It was soon perceived by the
coachman and guard, by the light of the lamps, that the animal which had
seized the horse was a huge lioness. A large mastiff dog came up and
attacked her fiercely, on which she quitted the horse and turned upon
him. The dog fled, but was pursued and killed by the lioness, within
forty yards of the place. It appears that the beast had escaped from its
caravan which was standing on the road side with others belonging to the
proprietors of the menagerie, on their way to Salisbury Fair. An alarm
being given, the keepers pursued and hunted the lioness into a hovel
under a granary, which served for keeping agricultural implements. About
half-past eight they had secured her so effectually, by barricading the
place, as to prevent her escape. The horse, when first attacked, fought
with great spirit, and if at liberty, would probably have beaten down
his antagonist with his fore feet, but in plunging he embarrassed
himself in the harness. The lioness attacked him in the front, and
springing at his throat, fastened the talons of her fore feet on each
side of his neck, close to the head, while the talons of her hind feet
were forced into his chest. In this situation she hung, while the blood
was seen flowing as if a vein had been opened by a fleam. He was a
capital horse, the off-leader, the best in the set. The expressions of
agony in his tears and moans were most pitious and affecting. A fresh
horse having been procured, the mail drove on, after having been
detained three quarters of an hour. As the mail drew up it stood exactly
abreast of the caravan from which the lioness made the assault. The
coachman at first proposed to alight and stab the lioness with a knife,
but was prevented by the remonstrance of the guard; who observed, that
he would expose himself to certain destruction, as the animal if
attacked would naturally turn upon him and tear him to pieces. The
prudence of the advice was clearly proved by the fate of the dog. It was
the engagement between him and the lioness that afforded time for the
keepers to rally. After she had disengaged herself from the horse, she
did not seem to be in any immediate hurry to move; for, whether she had
carried off with her, as prey, the dog she had killed, or from some
other cause, she continued growling and howling in so loud a tone, as to
be heard for nearly half a mile. All had called out loudly to the guard
to despatch her with his blunderbuss, which he appeared disposed to do,
but the owner cried out to him, “For God’s sake do not kill her--she
cost me 500_l._, and she will be as quiet as a lamb if not irritated.”
This arrested his hand, and he did not fire. She was afterwards easily
enticed by the keepers, and placed in her usual confinement.
The collection of animals in Ballard’s menagerie is altogether highly
interesting, but it seems impossible that the proprietor could exhibit
them for “only a penny” in any other place than “Bartholomew Fair,”
where the people assemble in great multitudes, and the shows are
thronged the whole day.