Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-03-13
A FRIGHTFUL DEATH,

n Ill " IL " II 0In II
Lonta,er Torn TO Pieces by Five Lions--- HorribI,
and Sichening Deisls---A Panic-striokon Grove
Looking On.
From the Bolton (England) Evening News.l
A series of farewell performances
were being given prior TO the menag.
erie proceeding to'Bury, and an extra
performance was announced and took
place at 1890 o'clock. Attached to
the show was q man named Thomas
Maccarte, whose professional appella-
tion was "Massarti, the Lion tamer,' y
and be at this extra performance en-
tered the lions don for the last time
Maccarte was young man not more
than thirty-four years old, but he had
been associated with travelling exhibi
tions of this kind from n very early
period. He had previously lost an
arm when performing with Mcssrs,
Bell q Mycrs's Circus at Liverpool
He had previously been trained by
Messrs. Batiy Us n lion.tamer, and
having joined them for n short time
he was engaged by the late Mr. Man
ders to succeed Maccomo. He was d
very bold and vcnturous man, and had
been frequently cautioned respecting
his rashness. The unfortunate man
commenced his performances on We'd
ncsday evening, when he was hardly
in proper condition to do so and
having exhibited tho gorilla and the
serpents ho entered the lions den
At this time it is calculated 500 or 60C
persons we're present, and tho five
lions in the den were put through
their performances with the usual sue
cess and applause. On all general oc
casions heated bars of iron and iron
scrapers arc in readiness, but on this
fatal evening the matter had been ne
elected.
THE FIVE LIONS
were all powerful animals and thS
unfortunate man on entering the cage
noticed that black named African
lion, which had only SO recently III
Monday bitten his hand appeared
very restive. He consequently fxot
his eyes on it, and this in some degre,
diverted his attention from an Aslati'
lion known by tho name of Tyrant
against whom he had been cautioned
only that morning to keep carefully
to his Instructions. 1t is necessar,
here TO noto that when performing
lions are tanned there is line drawn
or what is known as "lhe Office" il
technical phraseology, by which th
beasts are taught to regard that lin
as limit beyond which the perform
or must not pass, knowing, il hc doe
so, the consequences TO be expecte,
are most dangerous. The presumr
tion is that the line was overstcppec
and Maccartc, who was attired as
Roman gladiator, was returning hi
falchion to its sheath, slipping, he fc
on the floor Of the den. Tyrant fas,
ened on him, seizing him by tn
launches, and the African lion faster
ed on TO his armless shoulder. Mat
carte Immediately called upon tn
! keepers for help, and meanwhile I
fire. lie then drew the short Roma
blade which formed part of his co
tune and commenced fighting desp,
ratcly with the lion Tyrant, thrnstin
the sword into its face, mouth, an
r eyes. Tho crowd,
PANIC STRICKEN,
crowded around and effcctually pr
vented the approach of tho men wi
were used to the habits Of the an
mails. The shouts Of tho audienc
the desperate and manful struggle
, the fatcd man, and the smell OF Il
blood which was streaming from Ma
carto melted the other animals an
p ? their savage instinct was awakcnc
d A third lion-an Abyssinian one.
, seized him by the ribs, and then
five.ycar old lion, and an especial I
vorite Of tho lion tanner, caught hi
by the head, literally scalping biz
tho flesh hanging down his neck. II
s treacherous fuvorile had no sooner q
compished this work than he retur
cd quietly to his corner
Z TIE DEADLY STRUGGLE
progressed, and Mr.. Birchall who hi
from the first been most active, plac
q . iron scrapers in the fire TO heat thol
Of Pistols and guns we're discharged, b
Y they, unfortunately, were only load
y w,th blank cartridge ana the G'azll