The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1870-06-29
rEnnrnLE CIRCUS AccIDENr.
Fearful and AgtM AGair- Three Men
Deeumed A!iye By Lions

The unusually quiet little village Of
Middlctown was lately thrown INTO a pam.
ful.fcyer of excitement on the morning 81
MAY 18th, BY an awfnl catastrophe, which
occurred to the band lately attached to
James Robinson q Co.'S circus and animal
show, and led BY Professor NJ. y. Sexton.
Upon starting out FROM cineniatl Tor
the season. the management determined 70
produce something novel in the way Of
band Chariot, and conceived on the idea Of
Imouniing the baud upon the coicssai dcn
Of performing Numidian lions. and which
would iolm one Of the principal and most
imposing features of the show
Although repeatedly warned by PROBES
sor Sexton that be deemed iho cage inse-
cure and dangerous in the extreme. the
managers still persisted in compelling the
Band to rideiupcn it. Nothing, however,
occurred until the fatal morning Of the 18th.
The Baud took their places and the pro-
cession commenced to move amid the shouts
Of the multitude Of rustics who had assem-
bled to witness the grand pageans, and hear
the enliyening strains Of music. Not a
thought Of danger was entertained By any
one. but the awful catastrophe was about
| to occur.
As the driver cndeayorcd TO make turn
in the streets the leaders became eutangled
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
forewhecl Of the cage came in contact with
large rock with such force us to cause the
braces and stanchions which supported the
roof to give way. thereby preeipitating the
entire band into the awful pit below.
For nm instant the vast crowd was para
lyzed with fear, but for moment only. and
thea arose such shrek Of agony as was
never heard before. The awful groans Of
terror and agony which arose from thc
poorwietims who were being torn. laceraicd
by the frightful monsters below. was heart
rending and sickcning to terrible degree.
4 Every moment some one Of the band
would cxtrieatc themselves from the debris.
and leap oycs the sides &C the cage 10 the
ground with wild spring and faint away
uyon striking the earth, 70 great was their
terror. But human nature could not stand
and see men literally dcyourcd bciore
lthci- very eyes, for there were willing hearts
anil strong arms ready TO render every AZ
sistancc necessary to rescue the unfortunate
victims of this shocking calamity.
A hardware store which happened e
stand opposite was invaded BY the request
Of the noble hearted proprietor, aud pitch
forks. crowbars sud long bars u iron. and
IN fact every available weapon was brought
into requisitiob. The sidc-docrs q The
cagc we're quickly torn from their iastcn-
ir.rs. and then horrible sight was present
I'd to view. Mingled among the brilliant
uniform u the poor unfortunascs lay legs,
arms. torn from their sockets and half dc.
yourcd. while the savage brntcs glared C.
rociously with their sickly grccn-colores
, eyes ulon the pcirifcd crowd. PofcsscI
Charles White arrived al this incuieIit
, and gave orders in regard 10 exiricaiint
tic dead and wuunlcd--hc well knowing
III would be difficult and dangerous un
lertaking TO remove them from the infuri'
ated monsters.
Stationing men with forks aud bans a
every available point. he sprang fearlcssl,
into the den amid the savage monsters. ane
commenced raising the wounded, and pas.
/, sing them upon the outside 10 their friends
! lie had succeeded in removing the wound.
! ed, aud was proceeding 10 gather up tli'
, remains of the lilcles, when the nam
moth lion, known TO the sliowmcu ~ ols
Nero. sprung with fightfal roar upcu III
keeper. fssicning his teeth and claws Il
him IN his ncck and shoulders. laccraiinl
, him in horrible manner. Prof. Whit
! made three hcrculcan efforts to shake ih'
monster oli. but without avail, and CAV
, orders 10 ere upon him.
. The contents of fourof Colts nayys wer'
i Immediately poured into the carcass d th'
ferocious animal and be fell dead and tll'
brave little man. notwithstanding ihc fear
ful manner In which be was wounded, hcse
/ left the cage until every vcstigo Of the dea,
were carefully gathered together and places
4 upou sheet, preparatory Tor burial. !
/ was fonnd that three o. the ten who noun
ted the cage short time before we're Mill
cd outright, and four others terribly lace
| rated. The names o. tho killed are Au
! gust sshocr. Conrad frcciz and Charlie
| Grcincr. Collins woro procured and u
/ immediate burial determined upon, as III
1 bodies were ~ frightfulIy torn and lace
! rated a. to be unrecoguizsble 70 their mos
intimate friends Ii was melanehol
4 day for sIiddleiown. and saddcr day g
thc friends and companionso of the deceased
r OF al the vast multitude who ssarte
! out In the morning with anticipations Of
glad holiday few left for ltlelr homes witl
7 dry eyes after the triple funcral-fof tn
Z entire community followed the remains !
. the quiet little cemetery. AZ lnidnigll
o the carcass Of the slain beast was quietI
buried on the lot whore was intended 70 b
!. given The exhibition bnt which was neye
accomplished. There Is a terrible rcspon
!. sibility resting upon some QUO which shoul
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