Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-22
Horrible Afair--A Man Partially Raten
by Lions, In London

[From the London Morning Post, sOth,l
Yesterday forenoon, about hslf-past ten
o clock, the Agricultural Hall, Islington,
was the scene Of shocking oeeurrence.-
In addition to the sudden roaring Of the
lions forming part of the equestrian exhi-
bition at that establishment, loud screams
were heard proceeding from the direction
| in which the animals are kept in their car
avan during the intervals Of the perfor-
msuces. The body Of man, named Thomas
Graves. who has within the last two or
| three dsys commenced his duties as new
keeper and feeder Of the animals, was
found drawn up close to the cage. Some
of the employees immediately seized the
long iron rods, with species Of hoe at the
end, by which the cage is cleansed, and
rushed 10 the spot. 1t was then discover
ed that one Of the large lions had the mans
right hand in his mouth, whilst another
had seized him by the thick part Of the
forearm, and had dragged the limb thro'
the bars Of the cage nearly up to the arm
pit. Having no hot irons, the men
at once set TO work belaboring the
animals over the skulls and eyes
in order to make them let 60 their hold.
I4Gb6 dh lAC ONtSSN1 S--Ag ~
ded to increase the feroeity Of the animals,
who. amidst loud rosro, commenced tear
ing the flesh from their victims srm and
hand with their claws. It was not until
the brutes were nearly blinded with the
blows inflicted upon their eyes that they
were induced to relinquish their grippe,
when the poor fellows mangled
limb was drawn through the bars, but with
some difficulty, and he fell fainting into
the arms Of those who had rescued him
from his horrible position. He vas at
once conveyed to the Secretsry's ofhee, IN
Barford street: in an insensible condition,
and covered with blood, DR.. Thomas and
another medical gentleman in the neigh
borhood were sent for, and attended IN 8
few minutes, and in consequence Of Mr..
Graves exhausted state, administered
brandy and other stimulents. 1t was then
discovered that the hand was bitten CON-
pletely through. and the flesh torn of the |
arm, in most parts the bare bone. The |
mutilsted limb was placed in baHdages and |
the sufferer placed in cab and taken TO |
the St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where on
examination by the surgeons it was un-
derstood thst smputation would be
necessary, and it was to take place
as soon IS the sufferer should have
sufficiently rallied from the first
shock to submit to it. The report last
night was that he remained in too low g
State from the loss Of blood to undergo the
operatiou, and that he is in very preca
rious state. At the time Of the occurrence
he was engaged in pushing some straw be-
tween the bars, either for the purpose Of
keeping 1t in the esge, or Of attracting the
attention Of the animals, and further f.
miliarizing himself to them. Whilst do
ing this one lion ssuddenly made spring
at his hand. and fastening it's fsnGs into
it, drew him by the arm inward. The roar
and excitement Of the first animal attract
inv the s.s::eation of the second, it sprsng
upon the arm aud mutilated 1t in the man
ner described. It is stated that lions have
been more than usually savage since the
death Of the large lioness which took place
during the late frost. During the forenoon
Mr., Crockett and the lions went through
the usual exhibition, during what is called
the morning performance, but nothing cut
Of the ordinary way transpired, only that
the two lions which had been beaten looked
heavy and more gloomy than the others
Il is now felt to be desirable that red-hot
irons should be always kept at hand, as,
had they Leen so, the animals would have
been instantly made to let 60 their hold Of
the unfortunate man.