The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-07-19
Thrilling Scene at Circus.


AS the closing scene of the perfor-
nance of Thayer & Noyes Circus on
last evening, a large cage containing
two lionesses were drawn into the
ring, and Mr.. Charles White, the keen
er, entered it. The animals are MI
full grown, young and active, and one
of the lions is remarkably wild and in.
tractable. Mr.. White, however. had
full confidence in his power to control
them. All proceeded we'll for q time.
but at length one Of the lions began
to be fractions and disobedient. where.
upon MIR. White struck him two or
three blows with whip. Suddenly
the animal made q spring and seized
Mr. White by the shoulder with his
teeth, shaking him as dog would
cat, and threw him on his back upon
the floor of the cage. A thrill of hor-
ror passed through the assemblage of
spectators. Ladies screamed and
fainted; many persons fastened to
leave the establishment; some with
terror-blanched countenances awaited
in silence the result, and others rush
cd INTO the ring, vaguely and vainly
hoping to rescue the adventurous lion
tanner from the fate which apparently
awaited him. Meanwhile Mr.. White
cody awaited the issue He was
J helpless for the moment, the lion, with
both fore paws upon his breast, hold
ing him down and retaining his shout
der within those terrible jaws. The
angry growls of the ferocious beast
was frightful, and he was evidently
determined TO make the most of his
opportunity. Mr.. Noyes, one of the
proprietors Of the circus, Selling an
iron bar dashed the end of it against
the lions head with such force that
the animal was surprised into relaxing
his hold. In an instant Mr. White
had regaincd his feet, and his control
over the occupants of the cage. With
n few well directed blows of his whip
he rcasserted bis supremacy, and The
recently victorious king of all beasts
was reduced to submission. Mr.. White
was terribly injured, the teeth of the
lion having penetrated his shoulder
deeply and lacerated tie flesh in Il
shocking maner besides crushing the
bones so as to render the left arm al
most useless. Despite his sufferings
and the obvious ill-will of the lion, he
proceeded with the performance TO
the end. He then quietly left the
cage, and not till then was any one
made aware of the serious character
OF his hurts. He was conveyed to
the National hotel in carriage and
now lies there III a critical condition
He is under the care of Dr. Whitebeck,
who has reduced the fractured bones
and hopes to restore the patient to a
comparatively sound condition. In n
previous encounter with the same lion,
Mr.. White was dreadfully lacerated in
the breast. The animal is of a peculiar
" sullen disposition, and has com
PEELED bis keeper to discipline him
vigorously on number of occasions.
-..
A JoKE.-We have frequently heard
of dry" jokes, but We think the fol-
lowing, which the Bennington Banae,
relates MS occurring in that place on
the Fourth, might be deemed the d-
rect opposite, and appropriately classed
as wet" Joke;
can occurrence which may well be
set down as good joke No. l, in all
its accompaniment - TRANSFERRED at
Bennington Centre on the 4th, about
noon. a tremendous squat of wind
came up, rs precursor of the heavy
shower, and filed the streets with a
perfect cloud Of almost impenetrable
dust, giving it the appearance of smoke.
The alarm of fire WAS instantly given,
our neighbors having lately had a taste
ofthe deyouring element, and fastened
to the rescue. No. l Engine of this
village was got out in a hurry, and
started at full speed for the scene OF
the supposed conhagration, farmers
span OF horses being 'coniscated' for
the purpose, much against the wish of
the owner. On arriving at the Roman
Catholic Church it was discovered to
be false alarm, and the valorous run
ners wild the machine turned about
and came home in "a DIR, nching show
er, wet to the butt Our uptown
neighbors should have sprnkling
cart 1t was a good joke-the very
best OF the season; and yet at first
sight it seemed as though the village
was all on fire. But after all, some
one ought to put up on it -