Sister Golden Hair Surprise

Taken From the Toluca Star Newspaper, Toluca, IL

July 4, 1902

A Wild African Lion Killed in Marshall County

Early Sunday morning Mat VanPatten, and others in his neighborhood, flashed the news by phone to Toluca that a monstrous big lion was roaming about his neighborhood seeking for people to devour. Toluca people are noted for their bravery and willingness to help their neighbors in their hour of need, and though it was raining pitchforks, a company of Toluca citizens was quickly organized, armed and put under marching order.

The Toluca company went out, discovered the hiding place of the lion, surrounding in “true military style” and opened fire on the enemy. The battle fierce and furious for awhile, but as was to be expected, enlightened, civilized humanity, with modern implements of warfare, proved their superiority over the king of beast. They killed the lion, killed him dead, and after he was dead several other companies came to the rescue and killed the lion again, and again till he was dead.

Where he came from or whence he was bound the Star man could not learn but we have it on the highest authority that he is dead. As there has been considerable controversy as to who killed the lion the third and eleventh time we will postpone our account of the particulars of that battle till a later date. The Star does this in the interest of justice. We have names of all the brave men who killed the lion up to the 29th man, but the two exceptions mentioned, we are in doubt. It is the Star’s desire and intention to give every hero who took part in that battle his just dues in order that there may be no controversy like the Schley-Sampson affair hereafter.