The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-01-25
HORRORS OF A MENAGERIE.

A Lion Tanner Torn to Pieces by his Per
forming Beasts Before a Terrified
Audience.
The Manchester Guardian says that
dreadful scene happened in Manders'
menagerie, Market aquare, Bolton, Thom-
as Maccarte being attacked and killed by
lions as he was performing in their
midst 1t was the last evening of the ex
hibltion, and Maccarte undertook to give
an extra performance. In the cage which
he entered were five lions The animals
had been put through their leaping exer
cises, when Maccarte noticed that one, a
full grown Aslatic, was restive and show
ed his teeth. He drew his sword and
pointed it threateningly at the lion s
mouth.
His attention being thus diverted from
the other animals, young African lion
crept stealthily out FROM the group and
sprang toward Maccarte, seizing him by
his right hip and throwing him down.
At the same time the Asiatic lion fastened
itself upon his head, tearing off portion
of his scalp. A scene of the widest con-
fusion ensued-women screaming, and
men running about in all directions in
search of weapons. 1t is usual in Man,
ders' menagerie to keep number OF irons
continually heated for emergencies, but
on his occasion they had been removed,
and fresh irons had to be placed in tn e
fire.
Maccarte fought desperately with his
sword, inficting some fearful gashes on
the faces of both lions One Of the other
lions now seized the unfortunate man by
his only arm, fracturing the bones, while
another tore piece of flesh out of his
thigh. Maccarte retained his presence
of mind, and called out to the men to fire
among the animals Revovers and rifles
were accordingly procured, and while
some fired blank cartridges full in the
faces Of the infuriated beasts, others pro
bed them with heated irons, stabbed them
with forks and beat them with a ladder
and iron scrapers. Eventually a slide
was introduced between the bars of the
cage, behind which Mr.. Birchall the
agent, and John Ryan, one of the keep
ers, drove four Of the lions
At the fifth lion more shots were fired
but it was not until the heated bars were
applied to the nose Of the animal that it
rehnquished its hold aud ran behind the
partition. Maccarte then staggered to
his feet, but ere he could reach the door
and before the slide could be closed. the
African lion again rushed out, seized the
poor fellow again by the foot and dragged
him back into the corner among the 9th
er animals. Again the frightful struggle
went on. Maccarte was dragged up and
down the cage by the head and the legs
three or four times, the floor being com
pletely saturated with his blood Some
rifles loaded with shot were now discharg
ed among the savage brutes, and with
several irons, DOW heated to red glow,
they were beaten into a corner and the
partition closed against them. Maccarte
was then released, still conscious
As he was borne to the infirmary, he
exclaimed to a fellow workman "Hary.
| am done for" In addition to the back
part Of the scalp, all the flesh had been
torn from the thighs, the right arm was
fractured in two places, as well as badly
lacerated from the shoulder to the hand 4;
the chest had been lacerated, and some
of his bones had pieces bitten out Of them.
He died in ten minutes after his admis-
sson to the infrmary. Deceased was SO
years OF age, was a native of Cork and
was married.