Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-05
VOL. IS NO. SO.
a Man Killed by Lion.

Yesterday morning terrible encounter
took place ut Ashley's Amphitheatre. An
uuder groom under Smith was literally
throttled {" death by one of the lions which
play so prominent n part in the holiday
entertainments at that favorite place OF
amusement. The lions, three in number.
are confined IN n cage nj the back IF the
stage. When the night Waterman left the
theater yesterday morning. a few minutes
before O'Clock, he reported "all right. 3"
Shortly afterward Smith, the deceased.
entered the place and found the lions prowl
ing about. They bad torn of heavy iron
bar which crossed the front Of their cage,
sni then burst open the door. Smith was
alone, and not being familiar with the an
finals he attempted to escape into an ad-
joining stable yard.
HIS situation was a frightful one. and
most men would have acted precisely as he
did under similar circumstances but the
probability is that If be had stood his
ground boldly bis life would have been
saved, URfoytunaiely one Of. The lions
that which is known by the nnmo 81 flave.
lnck-caught sight Of his retreatinc figure
and instantly sPranS upon him. 1t seized
MIN by the launches, pulled him TO the
ground and then fixed its teeth in his
thrUat. Death must have been almost in
Simultaneous, but as Smith was found n
good deal cut and bruised at the back of
the bead, II Is supposed tina; the lion, after
burying Its fargs in his threat, dragged
him about and dashed his head against the
ground. Ii seems, in fact, to have worried
him, though the wounds inflicted Nv the
brute are neither so numerous nor 81 Sc
we're as might have been expected. There
was no cries for help, but a sort Of shutting
NOISE was heard by man in the stable
yard. lie suspected what had occurred.
and did not venture to open the door
through which Smith had endeavored to
escape, but gave the alarm, and in n few
minutes was joined by several grooms and
others connected with the theatre.
They were all, however, too much afraid
70 enter the place, and nothing was done
to ascertain the fate of Smith until the
arrival Of Crockett, the Lion COnoueror, 70
whom the animals belong. As soon as he
reached the spot he passed through the
door alone, nUDe Of the others daring Ia
follow. The body Of Smith was living face
upward few feet from the door, HayeIosk
was croucEing over it as hungry dog
crouehes over piece OF neat. Crockcii
Immediately threw the animal off and
dragged the body into the yard 1t was
still warm, but life had been extinct for
some time. A surgeon was sent for, but
OF course be could render no assistance.
Crockett lost no time in securing the lions.
They allowed him to capture them easily
enough. Even Havelock did NOT offer any
resistance, aud the other two, which had
taken no part in the terrible scene with
Smith, seemed rather afraid than other
wise. In few minutes all three were
back in their cage again, and last night
they went through their usual performances
before crowded audience. Smith was
unmarried. There will, of course, be an
inquiry into the circumstances which at
tended the unhappy mans death.-LOndon
Times, Jan 8.