The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-06-25
Terrible Scene acith Lions.

On the morning of the 18th instant, terrible
accident happened the circus and animal show
of James Robinson & Co., at Cincinnati. One
of the most imposing portions ofthe show while
in parade is the seating of the band in an i'm
posing car placed on the top of colossal den
of Numidian lions. This car, it seems, gave
way percepitating the men below. The st.
Louis Republican gives the following account
of the horrible scene that was then enacted
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 COM
menced to move, amid the shouts of the multi
tude of rustics who had assembled to witness
the grand pageant, and hear the enlivening
strains of music. Not thought of danger was
entertained by any one, that the awful
catastrophe was about to occur.
AS the driver endeavored to make turn IN
the streets, the leaders became entangled and
threw the entire team into confusion, and he
lost control of them, and becoming frightened
they broke into a violent run. Upon the OPP
poste side of the street tie fore wheel OF the
cage came in contact with a large rock with
such force as to cause the braces and stanchlons
which supported the roof to give away, thereb1N
preciptati9g the entire band into the aFFta9 PIT
For an idstadeshe.s... crowd vas paralyzed
with fear, but for moment only, and than
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, lacerated by the frightful
moneters below, were heart-rending and
sifkening to terrible degree. Every moment
|. SHINE one of the band would extricate them
SELVES from the debris and leap over the sides
of the cage 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 deyoured
before their very eyes, for there were willing
hearts and strong arms ready to render every
assistance necessary to rescue the unfortunate
victims of this shocking calamity.
A hardware store which happened to stand
opposite was invaded by the request of the no.
BILE hearted proprietor, and pitchforks, crow
bars and long bars of iron, and in fact every
available weapon was brought into requisition.
The side doors of the cage were quickly torn
from their fastenings, and then horrible sight
was presented to view. Mingled among the
brilliant uniforms of the poor unfortunates lay
legs, arms, torn from their sockets and hall de-
voured, while the savage brutes glared
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 well knowing it would be
| difficult and dangerous undertaking to remove
| them from the infatuated monsters.
| Stationing men with forks and bars at every
| available point, he sprang fearlessly into the
den amid the savage monsters, and commenced
raising the wounded and passing them outside
| to their friends. He had succeeded in romov
ing the wounded, and proceeding to gather up
| the remains of the lifeless, when the mammoth
| lion, known to Snowman as Old Nero, sprang
with frightful upon his keeper, fasten-
| ing his teeth and claws in him, in mis- neck and
shoulders, decorating him in a horrible manner.
| Professor White made three herculean efforts
| to shake the monster off, but without avail, and
| gave orders to fire upon him.
| The contents of four of Colts navies were
Immediately 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 vestige of the dead was
carefully gathered together and placed upon
a sheet, preparatory for burial. 1t was found
| that three of the ten who mounted the cage a
short time before were killed outright, and four
others terribly lacerated. The names OF the
killed are August Schoer, Conrad Freeiz, and
Charles Greiner. Collins were procured, and an
immediate burial determined upon, as the
bodies were SO frightfully torn and lacerated
as to be unacceptable to their most intimate
| friends. 1t was melancholy day for Middle
town, and sadder day for the friends and
| COMPANIONS of the deceased.