Tuesday, May 14, 2013

MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES: A MISSING LYNX IN CHESHIRE, 1904


Just 1 year after a lynx was shot and killed in Devon in 1903 a lynx (Lynx lynx) was brought back from India by Lieut Hugh Brocklebank of the 9th Lancers and got loose in what is now the Wirral. According to a web page the 9th Lancers were based in India closest to this date. The Portsmouth Evening News of 18th April 1904 reported as follows:


A LYNX LOOSE

 An escaped lynx is causing trouble in the district of Heswall-on-Dee, Cheshire. The animal was brought home recently by Lieut. Hugh Brocklebank of the 9th Lancers, and chained up in a stable. With the cunning of its species,however,it contrived to effect its escape,and up to last night had eluded its pursuers. Farmers are looking to their shotguns. (1)

Also in the Manchester Courier of the same date:

A large specimen of the lynx species escaped from the stables of Mr. Thomas Brocklebank D.L. J.P at Heswall-on-Dee,Cheshire and has so far evaded capture. (2)

On April 19th The Evening Telegraph (Dundee) gave more information

AN ESCAPED LYNX

STRANGE STORIES OF ITS EXPLOITS

In the neighbourhood of Heswall-on-Dee,Cheshire,an escaped lynx is causing considerable trouble.

Lieutenant Hugh Brocklebank,of the 9th Lancers,brought the animal home,and chained it up in a stable.With the cunning of its species,however,it contrived to effect its escape,and up to last night had eluded its persuers.Hunting parties have searched high and low for the disturber of the peace,says the “Daily Mail” but they have returned with empty bags, though primed with stories of the villagers concerning the doing of the animal.

Its ubiquity is apparently wonderful; it has been seen in scores of different places at one and the same time, while it rivals the chameleon in the matter of changing colour, if some of the tales are to be believed. Had a whole menagerie broken loose the destruction among fowls,rabbits,sheep,cows and horses could hardly have been so alarming for the lynx is said to have consumed such trifles with comparitive ease since it escaped. Farmerm are looking to their shot guns, but are careful to lock their doors at night and bury their heads in the bedclothes. (3)

Thanks to Bob Skinner for this information.
  
  1. The Portsmouth Evening News  April 18th 1904
  2. Manchester Courier April 18th 1904
  3. The Evening Telegraph April 19th 1904
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2 comments:

  1. Retrieverman12:53 PM

    More likely a caracal, which are commonly kept in India as coursing animals, and were known to the British as a type of "lynx," though they are not.

    There are Eurasian lynx in the Himalayas, but the caracal would be much easier to obtain.

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  2. Richard Muirhead1:36 PM

    Thanks Retrieverman.The caracel or whatever it was was also reported in the Cheshire Observer of the same date.

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