The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-08-17
Awful Scene in 4 Menaxerje.
IhkEE MEN KILEED-A NlJMBER 1yr,,p,

m sr The Middletown (Mo.) Banner b.,
e, following: ~'
y Inc ueuaiiy quiet village of Middlet q
: was lately thrown into an awful fever of :
cltement by an awful catastrophe vb;ch ,
e Cured to the band lately attached m II
Robinson q Co.'S circus End animal sho
and led by Prof. NJ. C. Sexton. ~
upon starting out from Cincinnati for t
|, .ne season. the manager determined to mr.
luce something novel in the way of ban
~ Ina,lo'' ana conceived the idea of monntiu
!oe 9and upon the colossal den of perforn
ing Numldlan lions. and which would for
lures of the show. ~
Although repeatedly warned by Profs
oextop that ha cnnsian-aa-A A. ..... ...s,
twelefth. the band took their places, ar
procession commenced to move, am
shouts of the multitude of rustics who
assembled to witness the grand pageanl
Not thought of danger was entertained b.
any one, but the great catastrophe was abou
to occur.
AS the driver attempted to make turn il
the streets, the leaders became entaneled
and threw the entire team into confusion
and he almost lost control of them, and be.
coming frightened, they broke in a violen,
run. Upon the opposite side of the street.
The forewheel of the cage came in contact
with large rock with such force as to cause
tn" stanchions which supported the roof to
give way. thereby precipitating the whole
band into the awful pit below.
For on instant the vast crowd was para-
lyzed with fear. but for a mouent only, and
then arose such shrek as was never heard
before The awful groans of terror and
agony which arosefrom the poor victims who
were being torn and lacerated by the fright
full monsters below, were heartrending and
sickening to terrible degree. Every mo-
ment some one of the band would extricate
themselves from the debris and leap over the
sides of the cege to the ground with 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 before their eyes. for there were
willing hearts and strong arms ready to rem
der every assistance necessary to rescue
the unfortunate victims of this awful calam.
ity.
A hardware store which happened to stand
opposite was invaded. by the request of the
noble hearted proprietor. and pitchforks,
crowbars aud long bars of iron, and every
other available weapon, we're brought into
requisition. The sides of cars were quick
ly torn from their fastenings, and then
horrible signt was;presented to the view.
Mingled among the brilliant uniforms of the
poor unfortunates. lay legs and arms. torn
from their sockets and half devoured. while
the ferocious brutes glsred ferociously with
their sickly. green colored eyes upon the
petrifed crowd. Professor Charles White
arrived at this moment, and gave orders in
regard to extricating the dead and wounded,
he we'll knowing it would be a difficult and
the infuriated monsters.
Stationing men with forks and bars at
every available goint, he sprang boldly in
to the den amid the savage monsters, and
commenced raising the wounded and pas
sing them upon the outside to their friends.
He Had succeeded in removing the wounded,
aud was proceeding to gather up the re
mains of the lifeless, when the mammoth
lion. known to showmen as Old Nero, sprane
with a frightful roar upon his keeper, fas-
tening his teeth and claws i'm him, in his
neck and shoulders. Mcerating him in hor-
rible manner Professor White made three
herculean efforts to shake the mcuster off,
but without avail. and gave orders to fire
upon him.
The contents of four Colts navy revolvers
were Immediately poured into the carcasss
Of the ferocious animal, and he fell dead;
and the brave little man, Notwithstanding
the fearful manner in which lie was wound
ed. never left the cage until every vestige of
the dead was carefully gathered together on
a sheet. preparatory for burial. 1t was
found that three Of the ten who mounted the
cage short time before we're killed and
four others terribly lacerated. An imme-
date burisl vas determined upon. as the
bodies were so frightfully torn and disfgured
as to be uLrecognizable to their most in
innate friends.It was melancholy day for
and sadder day for the friends
and companions of the deceased.