The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-06-23

OdlHeS S1ODIllSOlllS- circus ana animal
show determined to produce some.
thing novel in the waytof "a band
chariot, and conceived the idea of
mounting the band upon the colossal
den of performing Numidian lions,
and which would form one of the
principal and most imposing features
of the show. .syy9 II .enaTi
Although repeatedly warned by
Professor Sexton that he deemed the
cages insecure and dangerous in the
extreme, the managers still persisted
In compelling the band to ride upon
it. Nothing, however occurred until
the fatal morning of the 18th.
The band took their places and the
procession commenced to move amid
tho shouts of the multitude of rustics
who had assembled to witness the
grand pageant, and hear. the enliven-
ing strains of music. Not although
of danger was entertained by any one,
but the awful eatastrophy was about
to occur. - - 10
AS the driver endeavored to make
aturn 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 forel
wheel of the cage came in contact
with large rock with such force as
to, cause the braces and stanchions
which supported the roof to give way
thereby, precipitating the entire band
into the awful pit below. w.5z3n ea lss
For aminstant the vast crowd were
paralyzed with fear, but for a moment
only, and then arose such 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 and laeerated
by the frightfnl monsters below, was
heartrending and sickening to d ter
rible degree. ' A-+fA'',' - q.
Every moment some one of the
band would extricate themselves from
the debris and leap over the side of
the cage to the ground with a wild
spring and faint away upon striking
the ground, so great was their terror.
But human could not stand and see
men literally devoured before their
very eyes, for there were willing
hearts and strong arms ready too rem
der every assistance necessary to res:
cue the unfortunate victims of this
shocking calamity. md .s,;Fe. If
A hardware store which happened
to stand opposite was invaded by the
request1of I'm. e.nobie hearted prppfie9
tor, and 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 a horrible
sight was presented to view. Min
gled among the brilliant uniforms of
the poor unfortunates lay legs and
arms, torn from their sockets and half
devoured, while the savage brutes
glared ferociously with their sickly
green cofored eyes upon the, petrifed
crowd. q Professor Charles White ar
rived at this moment, and gave orders
in regard to extricating the dead and
wounded-he well Knowing. that it
would be difficult and dangerous
undertaking to remove them from the
infuriated animals. 81 t,e2 Laa
Stationing men with forks and bars
at every available point, he sprang
fearlessly into the den amid the mon
sters, and commenced raising the
wounded and passing them upon the
outside to their friends. He had sue
ceeded in removing the wounded, and
was proceeding to gather up the re-
mains of the lifeless, when the mann
moth lion, known to showmen as old
Nero, sprang with a frightfnl roar
upon his Keeper. fastening his teeth
and claws in his neck and shoulders,
iacerating him in a horrible manner.
Professor White made three herculean
efforts to shake the monster of, but
without avail, and gave orders to fire
upon him. gqt1 + as. to =.
The contents of four of Colts navys
were Immediately poured into the
carcass of the ferocious animal, and
he fell dead ; and the brave little man,
notwithstanding the fearful manner in
which he was wounded, never left the
cage until every vestige of the dead
were carefully gathered together and
placed upon sheet, preparatory for
buriel. 1t was found that three Of the
ten were killed outright, and four
others terribly lacerated. The names
of the killed are August Schoer, Con-
rad Freiz and Charles Grefner. Cof-
fins were procured and an Immediate
funeral determined upon, as the bodies
were so frightfully torn and lecerated
as to be unreeognizable even to. their
most intimate friends.
The lions are the same onos which
nearly cost Professor Charles White
his life two years ago, while travelling
with the Thayer Il Noyes party, and
were known to be very dangerous
cage of animals. Every attention is
being givin to the sufferers by the kind
and hospitable citizens Of Middletown
and at last accounts they were pro-
nomced out of danger.-Middleto,cn
(lNiSsouri) Banner. ,..r..l
SEvEN SINs.--1, Refusing to take
your own county paper, ri, if
2. Taking paper and not paying
for II. -