The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-06-23
IN TIE LIONS, DEN.
An Appalling and Horrible Occurrence
Three of RObinSOnsS CffeuH Men
Killed and FOur 9hOck1ngIy
Laeerated by Wild Beasts
IFrom the MIddletown CfissourD Banner. /

Z
season, the management of James Robin
sons circus aud animal show determined
to produce something novel in the way of
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.
Although repeatedly warned by Pro-
fessor 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, how>
ever, occurred until the fatal morning of
the 18th.
The band took their places and the pro-
cession commenced to move amid the
shouts of the multitude of rustics who had
assembled to witness the grand pageant
and hear the enhvening strains of music.
Not thought of danger was entertained
by any one, but the awful catastrophe was
about to occur.
AS the driver endeavored to make a
turn in the streets the leaders became en-
tangled 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 a large rock with such
force as TO cause the braces and stancbions
which supported the roof to give way,
thereby precipitating the entire band into
the awful pit below.
For on 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 eroans of terror and agony which
arose from the poor victims who were be-
imp torn, lacerated by the frightful mon
sters below, was heart-rending and sick
ening to terrible degree.
Every moment some one of the band
would extricate themselves from the debris
and leap over the sides Of the cage to the
ground with a wild spring and faint away
upon striking the earth, SO great was their
terror But human nature could not
stand and see men literally devoured be-
fore their very eyes, for there were willing
hearts and strong arms ready to render
every assistance necessary 10 rescue the
unfortunate victims of this shocking ca
lamlty.
A hardware store which happened to
stand opposite was invaded by the request
of the noble-hearted proprietor, and pitch
forks, crowbars and long bars of iron, and
in fact every available weapon was brought
into requisiop. The eide doors of the
cage were quickly torn from their fasten-
ines, and then a horrible sight was pre-
sented to view. Mingled among the bril-
liant uniforms of the poor unfortunates
lay LEGS. arms, torn from their sockets
and half devoureG, while the savage brutes
glared ferociously with their sickly green
colored eyes upon tue petrifed crowd. -
Professor Charles White arrived at this
moment and gave orders in regard TO ex-
Treating the dead and wounded-he well
knowing it would be a difficult and dan
cerous undertaking to remove them from
the infuriated monsters.
Stationing men with forks and bars at
every available point, he sprang fearlessly
into The den amid the monsters, and com
menced raising the wounded, and passing
them upon the outside TO their friends =
He had succeeded in removing the wound
ed, and was proceeding to gather up the
remains of the lifeless, when the NAM
moth lion, known to showmen as old
Nero, sprang with frightful roar upon
his keeper, fastening his teeth and claws
in his neck and shoulders, decorating him
in q horrible manner. Professor White
made three herculeau efforts to shake the
monster off, but without avail, and gave
orders to fire upon him.
The contents Of four of Colts navys
Immediately poured into the carcass of the
ferocious animal, and he fell dead and
the brave little man, notwithst audIng the
fearful manner in which he was wounded,
never left the cage until every vestage of
the dead were carefully gathered together
| and placed upon sheet, preparatory for
burial. 1t was found that three of the
ten were killed outright, and four others
terribly lacerated. The names Of the
killed are August Schoer, Conrad Freiz
and Charles Greiner Coffins were pro-
cured and an immediate funeral deter
mined upon, as the bodies were SO fright
fully form and lacerated as TO be unrecogN
nizable to their most intimate friends.
The lions are the same ones which
nearly cost Prof. Charles White his life
two years ago, while travelling with the
Thayer & Noyes party, and were known
to be a dangerous cage of animals Every
attention is being given to the sufferers by
the kind and hospitable citizens of Middle
town, and at last accounts they were all
pronounced ont of danger
ANOTHER STORY ON WHITTEMoRE.-
''Z,'' The special Washington corresponds
ent of the Baltimore Gazette, tells the fol-
lowing