Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-06-22


to James Robson Il Co.'S circus and
animal show, and led by Prot. NJ. Q.
Sexton.
Upon starting out from Cincinnati
for the season, the managers dc.
termined to produce something novel
in the way of n band chariot, and |
conceived the idea Of mounting the
oand upon the colossal den Of per-
forming Numidian lions, and which |
would form one of the principal and
most imposing features of the show.
Although repeatedly warned by
Professor Sexton that he deemed the
cage Insecure and dangerous in the
extreme, the managers still persisted
in compelling the band to ride upon
it. On the fatal morning of the 18th,
the band took their places and the
procession commenced to move amid
the shouts of the multitude of rustics
who had assembled to witness the
grand pageant, and hear the enliven-
ing strains of music Not n thought
OF danger WAS entertained by any
one, but the awful catastrophe was
about to occur.
As the driver endeavored to make
q turn in the street the leaders be-
came cntangled and threw the entire
team into confusion. and hn lost con.
troll of them, and becoming frighten
ed they broke into a violent run Up.
on the opposite side of the street the
forewheel of the cage came in CON
tact with a large rock with such force
as TO cause the braces and stanchions
which supported tho roof to give
away, thereby precipitating the entire
band into the awful pit below.
For an instant the vast crowd were
paralyzed with fear, but for moment
only, and then arose such a 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, laceratcd by
the frightful monsters below, was
heartrending and sickcning to a ter.
riblc degree. Every moment some
one of the band would extricate them
selves from the debris and leap over
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 dcvoured before
their very eyes, for there were willing
hearts and strong arms ready to rem
der every assistance necessary to
rescue the unfortunate victims of this
shocking calamity.
A hardware store which happened
to stand opposite was invaded 10y the
request Of the noble hearted proprie.
tor, and pitchforks, crowbars and long
bars Of iron, and in fact every availa-
BILE weapon was brought into requisi-
tion. The side doors of the cage
were quickly town from their fasten-
ings, and then horrible sight was
presented to view Mingled among
the brilliant uniforms of the poor un.
fortunatcs lay legs, arms, torn from
their sockets and half devoured, while
the savage brutcs glared ferociously
with their sickly, grecn.colored eyes
upon the petritied crowd. Professor
Charles White arrived at this moment,
and gave orders in regard TO extrica-
ting the dead and wounded, he well
. knowing it would be difficult and
dangerous undertaking to remove
them from infuriatcd monsters.
Stationing men with forks and bars
at every available point, hc sprang
fearlessly into the den amid the saw.
age monsters, and commenced raising
the wounded, and passing them upon
the outside TO their friends. lie had
succeeded in removing the wounded
and was proceeding to gather mp the
; remains of the lifeless, when the
mammoth lion, known to showmcn
as Old Nero, sprang with frighlful
roar upon his keeper, fastening hi.
feet and claws in him, in his neck and
J shoulders, lacerating him in a horri
ble manner. Professor White made
r three herculcan efforts to shake the
:. monster of, but without avail, anC
gave orders TO fire upon him.
The contents of four of Colts ma
c vies were Immediately poured into tht
}. carcass Of the ferocious animal, anC
+ he fell dead and the brave little man
Notwithstanding the fearful manner
in which he was wounded, never lcf
i the cage until every vcstigc Of th,
IS dead was carefully gathered togethc
J. and placed upon sheet, preparatory
q for burial. 1t was found that thre,
Of the ten who mounted the cage
short time before were killed outright
i and four others terribly laccrated.-
J. The names Of the killed are Angus
$ Shocr Conrad Freeiz, and Charlie
Grcincr. Coflins were procured an,
an immediate burial determined upon
u as the bodies were so frightfully tori
c and lacerated as to be unrecognizabl,
to their most intimate friends. /
, was q melancholy day for Middletown
:. and a saddcr day for the friends an,
companions of the deceased
OF all that vast multitude who star
e ted out the morning with anticipation
= of glad holiday, few left for thei
b. homes with dry eyes after tho tripl,
furncral, for the entire community
followed the remains to the quiet lit
j tie cemetery. At midnight the car
: cass of the slain beast was quietl,
5 buried on the lot where was intendc,
to be given the exhibition, but whicl
: was never accomplished There is
7, terrible responsibility resting upol
some one, which should be thorough
;, ly Investigated, and the guilty parlic
G be brought to a quick and speedy pun
, ishment Tho lions are the SAM
ones which nearly cost Prof Charlie
White his life two years ago, Will
q travelling with tho Thayer and Noye
Marty nul svorn Lpnsvn 10 10 n ,.,r,