Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-20
ATERRIBLE SCENE.
A Circus Band Precipitated iHtO Den OF
lioHs---Three Persons Killed.
From the Middletown kan Banner.

Cireus Band Precipitated into Den o
LiOas---Three Persons Killed.
From the Middletown Kan Banner.
The usually quiet little village o.
MiddletoWn was thrown into a pain
full fever Of excitement on Thursday
morning by an awful catastrophe
which occurred in the band lately at.
tached TO James RObinsOn's circus
and animal show, and led by Prof
NJ. G. Sexton.
Upon starting out from Cincinnati
for the season, the management de
termlned to produce something novel
in the way ofa 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. Al
though repeatedly warned by Prof
Sexton that he deemed the cage inse-
cure and dangerous in the extreme,
the managers still persisted in COM
pelling the band to ride upon it.
Nothing, however, occurred until
Thursday morning. The band took
their places, and the procession com
menced TO move amid the shouts Of
the multitude of rustics who had as
sembled TO witness the grand pageant,
and hear the enlivened strains of mu
sic. Not a thought of danger was en-
tertained by any one, but the awful
catastrophe was about to occur. As
the driver attempted to make the
turn in the streets, the leaders became
entangied and threw the entire team
into confusion. The driver lost con-
troll Of them, and, becoming fright
ened, they broke into viOlentLun,
the fore wheel Of the cage coming in
contact with large rock with such
force as to cause the braces and
stanchiOns which supported the roof
10 give way, thereby precipitating
the t-Ttire band into the awful pit be
low. E,0r an instant the vast crowd
were paraI iized with fear, but for
moment only, and then arose such
shrek of agony IS never was heard
before. The awful groans of terror
and agony which arose from the poor
victims who were being torn and lac
Grated by the frightful monsters be-
low was heaTt-rending and sicken-
ing TO a terrible degree.
Every moment some one OF the
band would extricate himself from
the debris, and leap over the sides Of
the cage TO the ground with wild
spring Of terror and faint away upon
striking the earth, so great was his
terror. But human nature could not
stand and see men literally devOured
before their very eyes, for there were
willing hearts and strong arms ready
10 render every assistance necessary
to rescue the unfortunate victims of
this shocking calamity. A hardware
store which happened to stand OppO-
site was invaded and pitchfOrks, crow
bars, long bars of iron. and, IN fact,
every available weapon, were brought
into requisitiOn, the side doors of the
cage were quickly torn from their
fastenings, and then a horrible sight
was presented TO view. Mingled
among the brilliant uniforms OF the
poor unfortunate victims lay legs and
arms torn from the sockets and half
devoured, while savage brutes glared |
ferociously with their sickly green |
-colored eyes upon the petrified crowd. |
Prof. Charles White ARRIVING at this /
moment, gave orders in regard TO eX- /
gricating the dead and wounded, he /
veil knowing that il would be diffi- |
cuN and dangerous undertaking to re- !
move them from the infuriated mon /
sters. StatiOning men with forks and /
bars AT every available point, he f.
sprang fearlessiy into the den amid /
the savage monsters, and commenced /
raising the wounded and passing them
upon tie outside 10 their friends.
He had succeed in removing the
wounded. and was proceeding to
gather up the remains of the liteleSs,
when the mammoth lion, known TO
.showmen as old Nero, sprang with
frightful roar upon his keeper,
fastening his teeth and claws in his
neck and shoulders, Iarceraring him
IN a horrible manner. Professor
White made three herculean efforts to
sbss-e the monster of, but without
avail: .Snd gave orders to hre upon
min, IN contents Of four Colts ma
vies were immediately poured lhI0
the carcass ~ the ferOciOus animal
and he fell dead; ana the
brave little man, hoIHlthsIanuIng
the fearful manner in BHLch nc SES
wounded, never left the edge uulti
every vestige of the dead Nete Oal0
fully gathered together an, gisCou
upon a sheet, preparatory for Nflal'
1t was found that three of the 81
who mounted the cage a short time, I
before We're killed outright, and four
Others terribly lacerated. The names
Of the killed We're August SchOer,
Conrad FreeiZ and Charles Greiuer.
Coffins were procured, and an imme-
diate burial determined upon, as the
bodies were so frighnully torn and |
lacerated as to be unrecOgnizabie by
their most intimate friends.
Ii was a melancholy day for Mid
dletOwn, and a sadder day for the
friends and companions of the de-
ceased. OF the multitude who started
out in the morning with anticipations
of a glad holiday, few left for their
homes with dry eyes after the triple
funeral, for the entire community
followed the remains to the quiet
little village cemetery. AT mid
night the carcase OF the slain
beast was quietly buried on the
lot where was intended to be given
the exhibition, but watch was never
There is a terrible
responsibility resting upon some one
which should be thoroughly inVesti-
gated and the guilty parties be brought !
% a quick and speedy punishment.
IA Q hons are the same ones which J
,ear, v cost Prof Charles White his
ife two wears ago while travelling with
he Tbsy er and Noyes party. and ;
we're know to be a very dangerous
age of amin, Us. Every attention is
eng psid fine sufferers by the kind
nd hospitabIe citizens OF Middle
own. and it is to be hoped they will
DON recover from their wounds. AT
asst accounts they W. re all pronounced
.ut of danger.
The Political Gu U0Ok.