North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-06-22

Appalling Occurrence.
Upon starting from Cincinnati for
the season, the management Of james
Robinson's circus and animal show de-
termined to produce something novel in
the way Of band chariot, and con-
ceived the idea Of mounting the band
upon colossal den of performing Nu-
indian lions, and which would
form one of the principal and most i'm
posing features Of the show.
Although repeatedly warned by Prof.
Sexton that he deemed the cage inse-
cure and dangerous in the extreme, the
managers still persisted in compelling
the band to ride upon it. Nothing,
however occurred until the fatal morn
ing of the 18th.
The band took their places and the
procession commenced to move amid
the shouts of the multitude of rustics
who had assembled to witness the grand
pageant, and hear the enlivening
strains of music. Not a thought of
danger was entertained by any one, but
the awful catastrophe was about to oc-
cur.
As the driver endeavored to make a
turn in the streets the leaders became
entangled and threw the entire team
into confusion, and he lost control Of
them, and becoming frightened they
broke into violent run. Upon the
opposite side of the street the FORE
wheel of the cage came in contact
with rock with such force as to cause
the braces and stanchions which support
ed the roof to give way, thereby pre-
cipitating the entire band into the aw-
full pit below.
For an instant the vast crowd were
paralyzed with fear, but for a moment
only, and then arose such a shrek Of
agony as was never heard before. The
awful groans of terror and agony which
arose from the poor victims who were
being torn, lacerated by the frightful
monsters below, was heartrending and
sickening to terrible degree.
Every moment some of the band
would extricate themselves from the
debris and leap over the side Of the
cage to the ground with wild spring
and faint away upon striking the earth,
SO great was their terror. But human
nature could not stand and see men lit
orally devoured before their very eyes,
for there we're willing hearts and strong
arms ready to render every assistance
to rescue the unfortunate victims Of
this shocking calamity.
A hardware store which happened to
stand opposite was invaded by the re-
quest Of the noble-hearted proprietor,
pitchforks, crow-bars, and long bars of
iron, and in fact every available weapon
was brought into requisition. The side
doors of the cage were quickly torn
from their fastenings, and then horri-
BILE sight was presented to view. Min
gled among the brilliant uniform of the
poor unfortunates lay legs, arms torn
from their sockets and half devoured,
while the savage brutes glared ferocious-
~ with their sickly green-colored eyes
upon the petrifed crowd. Professor
Charles White arrived at this moment
and gave orders in regard to extricating
the dead and wounded-he we'll know
ing it would be difficult and danger
GUS undertaking to remove them from
the infatuated monsters.
Stationing men with forks and bars
at every available point, he sprang
fearlessly into the den amid the mon
sters, and commenced raising the wound
ed, and passing them upon the outside
to their friends. He had succeeded in
removing the wounded, and was pro-
ceeding to gather up the remains of the
lifeless, when the mammoth lion, known
to showmen as old Nero, sprang with a
frightful roar upon his keeper, fastening
his teeth and claws in his neck and
shoulders, decorating him in horrible
manner. Professor White made three
herculean efforts to shake the monster
of, but without avail, and gave orders
to FIRE upon him.
The contents of four of Colts navys
wore Immediately poured into the car
cass Of the ferocious animal, and he fell
dead and the brave little man, notwith.
standing the fearful manner in which
he was wounded, never left the cage
until every vestige of the dead wat
carefully gathered together and placed
upon sheet for burial. It was found
that three Of the ten were killed out.
right, and four others terribly lacerated
The names of the killed are August
Schoer, Conrad Freiz, and Charles
Greiner. Collins were procured and
immediate burial determined upon, a,
the bodies were SO badly torn and LAGER
ated as to be unrecognizable to thei
most intimate friends.
The lions are the same ones which
nearly cost Prof. Charles White his lift
two years ago, while travelling with tn,
Thayer & Noyes party, and were known
to be a very dangerous cage Of animals
Every attention is being given to tn
sufferers by the kind and hospitabl
citizens'of Middletown, and at last &C
counts they were all pronounced out o
danger.
.-AiddletoUn Mo.) Banner.
Ingenious Invention.
r