The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-06-22
From the Middleton (NIo.) Banner.
IN THE LIONS DEN.
An Appalling and Horrible Occur
rence-Three of RObinsOn's Circus
Men Killed and Four ShOckingIy
LRcerated by Savage Beasts.


Upon starting out from Cincinnati for the sea.
son, the management of Jas. Robinson's circus
and animal show determined to produce some
thing novel in the way of band chariot and con-
ceived 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 Prof. 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 the shouts of the null
utude of rustics who had assembled to witness
the grand pageant and hear the enlivening strains
of music. Not thought of danger was entertain
ed 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 entangled and threw
the entire team into confusion, and he lost con-
troll OF them, and becoming frightened they broke
into violent run. Upon the opposite side of t.,e
street the fore 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 part below.
For instant the vast crowd were paralyzed
with fear, but for 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, laeer-
ated by the frightful monsters below, was heart
rending and sickening to terrible degree.
Every moment some one of the band would ex-
tricate themselves from the debris and leap over
the sides of the cage to the ground with wild
spring, and faint away upon striking the earth,
great was their terror. But human nature could
not stand and see men literally devoured before
their very eyes, for there willing hearts and
strong arms ready to render every assistance nee
essary TO rescue the unfortunate victims of this
shocking calamity.
A hardware store, which happened to stand Op-
posite, was invaded by the request of the noble
hearted proprietor, and pitchforzs, crOwbars and
long bars of irOn and IN fact every available we'd
pom was brought into reqnisition. The side doors
Of the cage quickly torn from their fasten-
ings, and then horrible sight was presented to
view. Mingled among the brilliant uniforms of
the poor nnfOrttnates lay legs, arms, torn from
their sockets and half deVoured, while the savage
brutes glared ferociously with their sckly green
Chas White arrived at this moment and gave
ders in regard to extrieating the dead and woun-
ded.
Stationing men with forks and bars at every
available point he sprang fearlessly into the den
amid the monsters, and commenced raising the
wounded, and passing them upon the outside to
their friends. He had succeeded in removing
the wounded, and was proceeding to gather up
the remains of the lifeless, when the mammoth
lion, known to shOWmen old Nero, sprRng with
teeth and claws in him in his neck and shoulders
Prof. White made three herculean efforts to shake
the monster of, but without avail, and gave or
ders to fire Upon him.
The contents of four of Colts navys were imme-
diately 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 ves-
tige of the dead were carefully gathered together
and placed upon sheet, preparatory for burial.
The lions are the same ones which nearly cost
Prof Chas. White his life two years ago, while
travelling with the Thayer Noyes party. and
were known to be very dangerous cage of ami
mails. Every attention is being given to the suf-
dleton, and at last accounts they were all pro-
nounced out of danger