The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-26
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
A Man Partially Eaten by Lyons in
London.

Yesterday forenoon about half past ten
O'Clock the Agricultural Hall, Ishlington,
was the scene of a shocking occurrence
In addition to the sudden roaring of the
lions forming part of the equestrian ex-
hibition at that establishment, loud
screams were heard proceeding from the
direction in which the animals are kept
in their cavern during the intervals of the
performances. The body of man named
Thomas Graver. who has within the last
two or three days commenced his duties as
a 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 a species of hoe at
the end, by which the cage is c.eansed,
and rushed to the spot 1t was then dis
covered that one of tn, 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 through 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 go their hold.
These proceedings at the outset only tend
ed to increase the ferocity of the animals,
who, amidst loud roars, commenced tearing
the flesh from their victims arm 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
grasp, when the poor fellows mangled
limb was drawn through the bars, but
with some difficulty, and he fell fainting in
the arms of those who had rescued him
from his horrible position. He was at
once conveyed to the secretary's Office in
Bradford 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 a
few minutes, and in consequence of Graves
exhausted state, administered brandy and
other stimulants. 1t was then discovered
that the hand was bitten completely
through, and the flesh torn off the arm, ic
most part to the bare bone The muti,a-
ted limb was placed in bandages, and the
sufferer placed in cab and taken to the
st. Bartholomew Hospital, where, upon
examination by the surgeons, it was un-
derstOOd that amputation would be neces-
sary, and it was to take place as soon as
the sufferer had sufficiently rallied from
the first shock to submit to it. The re
port was that he remained in too low a
state from loss Of blood to undergo the
operation, and that he is in a very preca-
rious state.
At the time Of the occurrence he was
engaged pushing some straw between the
bars, either for the purpose Of keeping il
in the cage or of attracting the attention
OF the animals, and further familiarizine
himself with them Whilst doing this one
lion suddenly made spring on his hand
and, fastening bis fangs into it, drew hin
by the arm inward. The roar and excite
ment of the first animal attracting the
attention of the second, it sprang upon the
arm and mutilated it in the manner dc
seribed. 1t is stated that the lions have
been more. than usually savage since the
death of the large lioness, which took place
during the late frost During the after
noon Mr.. Crockett and the, lions went
opinion of the court refusing the writ ol
the ground that, even if the arrest, tria
and punishment of Vallandigham were
illegal, there is no authority il the court.
to grant relief in this mode, and that there
is no law by which any appeal or prOceed-
! ings in the nature OF an appeal from q
military commission to the Su irene Cour,
can be taken.