Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-24
VOLUME IXxH.-Ko. 80. !,
a F,antic Lion Attacks his Keeper.

"A, frantiC LLOu AttdChS HIS IASSPSA'
b., The immense audience assembled under
the canvass of hessrs. .Thayer 4 NcYes, Falls,
Field, On Thursday evening, we're treated to
performance which they had not anticipa;,
ted, and which everybody present would
willingly have -forgone. The entertainment
had passed off to the entire satisfaction OF
the spectators, and as acrowning act. the'ldrge
cage containing two lions and two honesses
was drawn into the ring. when Mr.. Charles
White, the keeper, entered it to exhibit his
control over the ferocious beasts. The ami.
mails aresall full grown. young and active
in short tho best specimens Of their species We
ever saw-and one>of the lions is remarka-
bly, wild and intractable. Mr.. White, how
evar, having full confidence in his power to
control them, entered with entire fearless
ness and began to put the beasts through
their PAGES. ell proceeded we'll for time,
but at length enc of the lions began to bs
fractious and disobedient, whereupon Mr.
White struck linn two or three blows with
whip. Suddenly the animal made spring
and seized Mr.. White by the shoulder with
his teeth, shaking him, IS dog would cat
and finally throwing him on his back upon
the floor Of .h,. cage. a thrill Of horror pass;
ed through the assemblase of spectators. La
dies screamed and, tainted many people has
tened to leave the establishment; some with
tecror-blanchei., countenances awaited in 81.
lence the result; aad others rushed into the
ring, vaguely and yainly hoping to rescue the
adventurous Lon tamer from the fate which
apparently awaited him. Meanwhile Mr..
| White coolly. awaited che issue. He was
helpless for The moment, the lioa, !, with bpth
fore paws hpca his breast, holding him down
and retaining his. shoulder within those terri
biz laws. The angry growls Of the feroclous
beast were frightfpl, and be was evidently de-
| termiped to make the most Of his opportuni-
ty. Mr.. Moves, eneof the ,proprietors OF the
Ecircus, happened. fortunately TO be near, anu
Eseilng 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 regained
his feet, and his control over the occupants
of the cage. With few we'll directed blows
of his whiu he reasserted his supremacy, and
the recently victorious kiug Of beasts
was reduced to submission. 1t would nat
urally be supposed that after such an expert.
euce MIR. White would be disposed to part
company with his dangerous companions as
.soon as possible, but be is not made of the
kind of material to yield a. point. He was
terribly injured, the teeth Of the lion having
penetrated his shoulder deeply and laccrsted
| the Aesh in shocking manner, besides crush
ing the bones so as to.render the left arm al.
most useless. Despite his sufcriDgs aud the
obvious il-will of the lion. he proceeded with
the performance to. tho end. Luckily tine
rage, of tho other lion aud the lionesses had
not been excited, and be had only one real
enemy, to fear. lie compelled The savage aa;
/, imals to 60 through with their. acts as usual
and concluded by. feeding them a quantity 81
. raw beef handing the meat in pieces to each
animal in turn. lie thca quietly lelt.the cage
and not till.then was any QUO made aware o
the serious character of his hurt. Mr.. White
, did not fairlt away, as one OF our eosempora,
ries asserts, unless he didso after leaving the
!, arena. y He was conveyed to abe Netiora
Hotel 10 carriage and now lies there IN a
critical condition. lie is under the care
;. DR.. Whtbeck, who has reduced the fraetur
ed bones, and .hopcs.to restore the. patient to
comparatively soupl condition. lp pre-
vious encounter with the, same lion,, Mr.
White was dreadful'g laccratcd in thc breast
by the claws Of the powerful beast. The
aninal is of u peculiarly sullcu disposition
and has compelled his keeper 10 discipline
him vigorously on a. number OF OCCASIONS
. Rochester y. J.. Democrat, G!A.. 81