The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-30
IN THE JAWS OF A LIONESS
TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER ON THE now
ERY THEATRE STAGE.
The Queen Of the Lions Attacked By the
Queen Of the Forcrt-A Real Tragedy be-
fore the Feotiights-A Startling Termi-

The Queen Of the Lions Attacked By the
Queen Of the Forcrt-A Real Tragedy be-
fore the Feotiights-A Startling Termi-
nation Of a sunday Morning Performance.
The performance in the Bowery Theatre on
Saturday night or rather early on Sunday morning.
terminated in = frirhtful tragedy. Last week the
managers introduced living lions and tigers .
novelty, with young woman whose stage name Is
Minnie Wells, ms the "Lion Queen" Atiired In a
welhtting suit OF red she boldly entered the lions
cave, and for a time became master OF the King Of
tho Forest. The tigers were also 80 thoroughly
under her control that at mere motion OF her
hand they crawlcd TO her iee permitting her 10 cit
on their backs
At about 12H o'clock Yesterday morning, whom
the curtain shout to fall, Minnie Wells entered
the dens of Hons and tigers, and reduced them 10
submission. Atiired In her gsrish costume, the
girl went into the cage OF the two puma lonc-ses,
and began her performance. One Of the animals
was ready to obey her mistress, but the other WIS
out OF humor. But It would never do to dsap-
point the patrons Of the Powery Theatre. so Minnie
Wells attempted TO ohsstlse the animal, and the
brute, smarting under the blows. sprang upon her.
THE QUEEN DErnRosED.
In the twinkling OF an eve the Lion Queen was
thrown down, and the furious beast sprang at her
throat, fastening his teeth and claws into both
throat and shoulder. II thought at nrst by the
spectators that this was part Of the play until the
girls shrieks undeceived them. Then the truth be-
gan To dawn on the house. The womcn also shreked
aud tainted Some OF the more tmid len their seats
aud rushed from a place which had becn changed
from the represerta taton OF mimic to n real tragedy
aud TO one OF real horror, and where red ochre was
put into the shade by the shedding Of real blood
Men, who usually are not afraid OF anything
mortal; were paralyzed at the siCht thus uneI
pectedly brought up bcGure them, and could do
nothing more than shout for sssi.irncc.
bIvEpt
All thi. was the tragedy OF an instant vet II
seemed hours to the woman who lay the floor
q !ee Sase si!l shs teeth ard slsHs Of ths bea:,
the theatre, and all supposed that the end OF tie
Lion Queens performances had come. Bul soon
bars. and began to bcabor the tavny onstcr until
he had released bis hold. The girl was then
TAKEN OUT MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE,
Cor she had f1nted. Her friends rushed up and took
hor from the theatre to her lodging- where sur.
reon was summoned to dress the wounds. On ex-
pmination II was fhund that tie injuries were not
atal, but siill they were very severe. The girls
bitten and Hccratel by the animals teeth and claws
In trying 10 save herself the Lion Queen thrust out
her hand, winch Was seized by the lions teeth and
20 severely bitten that 1t may be necessary 10 su-
puiate IL.
THE THEATRE CLEARED Br IHk POLICE.
Intcrse excitement prevailed both In and around
the theatre, and even after the house bad been
cleared by the police, mass Of people stood In
of the building discussing tie horrible event. Capt
Kennedy, OF the sixth Ward Police, compelled
at last to 60 round to the theatre with sQuad oil
police from the Franklin street police station and
clear the people away from the building.
rHE LION QUEEN LAST SIoHT.
When the Sun reporter called at the wsstel,e~ter
Hotel last night to make Inquiries concerning Miss
We-'s condition, he told that by pnysieian S
orders visitors allowed 70 see her The
wounds not necessarily fatal, hut is neces-
sary to ward OF fsver. The liberation BY the teeth
especially In the neck, are deep and wide. The
hand is fearfully mingled and, although no bones
broken, some OF the tendons badly injured
as possibly 70 canse permanent deformity The
gashes nom the animals clsws sre ftightful. and
considered the mot dangerous, as the virus getting
into the blood may cause modification.
TIE ASNALs
which Mi.s weiis appears with are only two years
and nve months old and obtained by her father
few days after their III. aud reared and train ell
Dy him especially Tor his daughter 10 perform with
They are said to he Very uactabe. and dcvotediy
attached to their young mistress sho wing for her
all the Affection OF Young spaniel The keeper OF
the animals and Mr. Wells unable TO account r.
The ieroclty Of the noness, which IN Misc Nells =
pet, otherwise than that she wr annoyed by
Prince" the African lion, In the adjoining cage.
FLuckr STILL
The " Lion Queen declares her determin alton 10
maintain the title she has assumed, anu that she
will again appear Immediately her recovery. She
promises her pet castigation for her mis-
behavior Miss Wells and her friends are very sAn.
RUNE that, II no fever supervenes, she will be able
TO perform IN q few days.