Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-07-02
A Terrible Affair In a Travelling Cir.


catastrophe which occurred to the bsnd
lately attached 10 James Robinson d
Co.'S cireus and snimal show. and lct ~
Prof. VI. e.. Sexton.
Upon slsriine out from Cincinnati for
The ses.un. tie management determined
to prod zee something novd In the wsy Of
a b,nj ehsrin,, and conceived The ide, Of
mouniing the hand upon the colossal den
Of performing NumiJian lions,snd which
would form ore Of The principal and most
imposing features o: the show.
Although repeatedly warned by Prof.
Sexton that he deemed the cage insecure
aud dangerous in the extreme. the msos-
gers still persisted in compelling the band
TO ride upon it, On The fatal morning Of
the 10th the band took their places and
the procession commenced t. move amid
the shouts of ihe multitude of rusIics who
had assembled to witness the gtsnd pa
eesnt. and hear the enlivening strains of
music. Not ihonghi OF danger ~as en-.
lertsinrd By any one, bot The awful. ca.
tsstrophe wa. about 10 occur.
As tie driver en6cavored 80 mike
turn IN the streets the leaders became en-
tangled and threw tie enlne team int,
confusion, and he losl control Of ihem,snd
becoming frightened they broke into a VI
olenl run. Upon The opposite EIDE OF the
street the lore wheel OF The cage came IN
cnnuci with q large rock With such force
rs 20 cacse the braces and sisrchInns
which supported the iool 10 give away.
thereby prccIpitt'lng the eni,e band In'o
tie aNiu pit below.
Fer an infant the vast crowd were
parslizcd with fear. but for moment on.
Is, and then arose such shrek OF sgoOy
as vas never heard before. TIE awful
eroans Of terror ard agony who, srose
from the poor sIcnms WHO were berg
torn. laceraled by tie lnghlful monster.
belew, was hearITend,ng aud sIckcnlng 10
a terrible degree. Every moment sonc
one Of tie band would exlriceic thrm.
selves from the debfl. aud leap over the
sides of The cage To- the ground "ith
wild spring and FAINT away "fon sinking
the earth, so great was 'hen icrruf. But
human nature cuuld not siauC snd see
nien literally deyouTed before ihrir ,eIv
eyes, for their were wiling hosu- aud
strong arms ready IN fCnGerevety ss.si.
anCe necessary lorescue The ud'ortDnais
victims OF this 81 king calamity.
A hardware siaJe ab'ch happened 10
stand opposite was invaded BY The rsQue-l
Of the noble hearted proprietor, and pI,eh-
! forks, crowbors and long bar. ol iron. apd
in fact every available wrapOn was hrnupti
into rcquisItlon. Tho side doors Il to
cage were quickly torn from lhrr fh.wn-
lngs, and ihen horrible sight Was pre-
senied TO vie~. Mingled among tho
brilliant uniforms cf the poor unfortunate
| By legs. sIms. 'orn from ihsIT socket. snh
! half devou:ed, while tie savage hruIes
! gsred feroc ou'ly with their drkiy.
! green. colored eye- upon ihc peinhrd
I crowd. Professor Charles " biie nrierG
al this moment. and gave orders 10 reas,d
/ to exiricsung The dead and wounded. hs
well kuosing IL would be a tiflculf un-
detiakIng 10 remove them lGom The !Dlo,i-
aied monsters.
.
every available poiid,he spfsrs frsriesly
/ into the den amid the ta,sge mon.ter',
and commenced rsi-lpe the wounded and
passing them upon the oui.lde 10 iheir
! fdends. He had succeeded in i'mo,ine
tire wounded and sas proceeding 20 gath.
/ er up the remains OF the lIfelrs.. when
tho mammoth lion, known 10 showmsn
, as Old Nero. fprsna with a fearful Iosr
upon his keeper, fastening hi, teeth and
claws IN him, in hi, neck and shoulders,
lscersine him in horrIble manner. Pro.
! fessor W bite made three hercUlesn efforts
1 TO shake The monster oG, but without avail
and peye order. TO hte opon hIn.7 'sfi
The contents OF four OF Colts nasies
were Immediately poured ioio ,lIe CARCASS
Of the ferocious animal. and he fetttdead !:
and the brave little man, notwithstanding
the fearful manner in which he was
wounded never lefi the cage mil every
sesiige Of The dead was cs'eiplly sslherrd
together and placed opon sheet prepsf-
alory Tor burial. Il wAs found that il,rsa
Of The ten xbo mounted the cafe . short
time before were killed o9iiisht. sod iour
oihere terrible Isctrsied. The names Of
the killed are August Schoef, Conrad
Freeiz and Charles Greiner. Cofins
were procured and an imuedisie bu,isl
determined uponsss lbe bodies gee ,o
irighlu,ly torn end Jacerslsd ss 10 be pn.
recogniz.ble 10 their - most iniip,ls
friends. II ws.a melancholy day for
4 Midd'eioan, and ssdder dsy Tor ths
friends ard companions Of The deceased.
or oil tbstvss, fsullilude Who started
out in The morning with surieiPslions OF .
glad holiday. few left for their bom,s
! with dry eyes alter hiple funsr,l. fofihc
entire com mmupIiy followed the remain. 10
the qpiei liiile cemetery. Al midoieb,
the carcass OF the slain beast was quietly
buried on The LOT where was intended "a
be given ibe exhibition bot which wss
never accomplished. There iss tuIbIs
responsibility resiirg upon some on,.
3 which should be thoroughly inres,igaied.
and the guilty. parties be brougb, 10 .
quick and speedy paBisll mes'.. Thes lions
are the same ones which nearly cosi Prof.
Charles White bis Ille two yesrs sao.
while trsveling With the Thsyer end
Noyes parry, snd were known 10 be 3
very dangerous cage Of snbpsl'. asfs'
The Revision Of the English Scriptures.
ordered recently by the Cos,ocstioB ~