The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-02-14
Death in a Menagerie--A Lion
tanner Torn to Pieces by
Five Lions.

i"tGIJ, -h"Clttlt W. lEC liVi loulIl
gave his usual performance, in
which he had TO enter the cage ot
five lions. On all general occa'
sions heated bars of iron md iron
scrapcrs are in readiness, but on
this fatal evening the matter had
been neglected. The five lions
were all powerful animals, and The
unfortunate man on entering the
cage noticed that q blalck.maned
African lion, which had only SO
recently as Monday last bitten his
hand, appeared very restive. lie
consequently fixed his eyes on it,
and this in some degree diverted
his attention from an Aslatic lion
known by the name Of Tyrant,
against whom he had been cau-
toned only that morning to keep
carefully to his instructions.
1t is necessary here to note that
when performing lions are tanned
there is line drawn, or What Is
known as "thc office in tcchni-
Cal phrascology, by which the
beasts are taught TO regard that
line as a limit beyond which the
performer must not pass, knowing,
if be does so, the consequences to
be expected are most dangerous.
The presumption is that this line
was overstcpped, and Maccarte,
who was attircd as ! Roman glad,
iator, was returning his falchion
to its sheath, slipping, be fell on
tho floor Of the den. Tyrant
fastened on him, Selling him
by the haunches> and then the
African lion fastened on his arm,
less shoulder. Maccarte imme.
diately called upon the keeper for
help, and meanwhile to fire. He
then drew the short Roman blade
which formed a part OF his cos,
tune and commenced fighting
desperately With the lion Tyrant,
thrustiug the sword into it's face,
mouth and eyes. The crowd panic.
stricken, crowded around and
cffectualIy prevented the approach
Of the men who wero used to the
habits OF the animals. The shouts
Of the audience, the desperate and
manful struggle of tho fatcd man,
and the sae!l of the blood which
was streaming from Maccarte, in
cited the other ANIMALS and their
savage instinct was awakened. 4
third Iion-an Abyssinian one
seized him by the ribs, and then
q five year Old lion, and an cspc-
cial favcritc Of the !icn-tamcr,
caught him by the head, literally
scalping him, the fosh hanging
down his neck. The trcacherous
tavoritc had no sooner accom-
plishcd this work than he returned
quietly to his corner.
Meanwhile the irons were heat
ed, and three of the animals driven
away, when a fourth seized Mac
carte Just above the boot and
dragged him in again among them.
Then the frighttul work went on
again for a few sickening and hor-
rltying moments. Hot irons were
now available, and the brutcs be-
ing driven off, the poor and almost
pulseless piece of humanity was
drawn out from the place it was
fated he never more should enter
He sustained sufficient scnsibility
to speak to his warm-hcarted col,
leagues i few faint words, praying
them not to take him away to re,
ceivc medical aid, as he knew he
was a dead man. His anxious
friends carried him tcndcr'y tC
the infrmary, where after a few
moments he breathcd bis last. after
mutteriug a few incohcrcnt sen
tences. The coroncr's jury re
turned q verdict Of death by mis-
adventure. and added: The jury
feel it to be their boundcn duty
to express their entire disappro
tation Of the reckless custom o
so-callcd lion tanners performing
in dens where tcrocious anlmal'
arc Gagged"