The union Democrat., 1870-06-11

The performance in the Bowery Theater on
Saturday night, or rather early on Sunday
morning. terminated in frightful tragedy.
Last week the managers introduced living
lions and tigers as novelty. with a ycnng
woman whose stage name is Minnie Wells, as
the Lion Queen" Attirei in a well-ftting
suit o, red. she boldly entered the lions cage
and for time became master of the King pf
she Forest. The tigers were also so thorough
~ nneer her control, that at mere motion
icf her hand they crawled to her feet, permit
ing her to sit on their backs.
AT about half-past twelve o clock yesterday
morning. when tie curtain was about to fall.
Minnie Wells entered the dens Of lions and
tigers. and reduced them to submission. At
tired in her garish costume, the girl went in
20 the cage of tire two puma lionesses, and
began tie performance. One of the animals
was ready to obey her mistress. but the 9th
ar was out of humor. But it would never do
10 disappoint the patrons Of Bowery Theaier,
so Minnie Wells attempted to chastise the an-
imal, and the brute, smartiag under the blow,
sprang upon Der.
THE QUEEN DETHRoNED.
In the twinkling of nm eve the Lion Queen
was thrown down, and the furious beast
sprang at her throat, fastening his teeth and
claws into both throat and shoulders. 1t was
thought ai first hy the spectators thar this
was part of the play. until the girls shrieks
undeceivei them. Then the truth began to
dawn on the house. The women also shrek
ed and tainted. Some of the more timid left
their seats and rushed from n place which
had been changed from the representation of
mimic 10 real tragedy, and to one of real
horror. and where red ochre was put into the
shade hy the shedding of real blood. Men.
who usually are not afraid of anything NOR
tai, were paralyzed at the sight thus rnex
pectedly brought up before them, and could
do nothing more than shout for assistance.
SAVED!
All this was the tragedy of an instant. yet
II seemed hours to the woman who lay on the
floor of the cage with the teeth and claws Of
the beast tearing her flesh. Shrek after
shrek ran through the theater, and oil sur
posed that the end OF the Lion Queens per-
formances had come. But soon the at,en-
dants rushed to the stage. armed with iron
bars, and began to belabor the tawny mon-
ster until he had released his hold. The girl
was then
TAKEN OUT MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE,
For she had tainted. Her friends rushed up,
and took her from the theater to her lodgings.
where surgeon was summoned to dress the
wounds, On examination il was found that
the injuries were not fatal. but still they were
very severe. The girls face, neck and shcul-
ders had been very severely bitten and lace
rated by the animals teeth and claws. In
trying to save herself ths Lion Queen thrust
out her hand which was seized by the lion s
tceth and so severely bitten that it may be
necessary TO amputate il.
Intense excitement prevailed both in and
around the theater, and even after the house
bad been cleared by the Police. mass of peo-
, Pile stood in front OF the building, discussing
the horrible event. Captain Kennedy, of the
Sixth Ward Police, was compelled at last to
go round the theater with squad of Police
from the Franklin-street Police Station, and
clear the people away from the building
n. T. San.