The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-01
A Lion Tanner Killed by Lions.

A lion tanner attached to Manders'
menagerie met with dreadful death.
The Bolton, England, Evening News
gives the following account of the oc-,
currence: Attached to the show, was
man named Thomas Maccarte, whose
professional appellation was ttMasarti,
the Tanner" Maccarte was q
Young man, but he had been associa-
ted with travelling exhibitions of this
kind from an early perion. He had
stern experience which ought to have
taught him caution; he had previous
fIy lost an arm when performing with
circus. He was a very bold and adj
venturous man, and had been FREE
laaeutly cautioned respecting his RASH
ness. The unfortunate man commen-
ced his performances on Wednesday
evening, when he was hardly in q
proper condition to do so; and having
exhibited the gorilla and the serpents
he entered the lions den. At this
time it is calculated five or six hum
dred persons were present, and the
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
scrapefs are in readiness, but on this
fatal evening the matter had been neg
lected. The five lions were all pow
erful animals; and the unfortunate
man, on entering the cage, noticed
that q black-maned African lion
which only sorecently as Monday last
had bitten his hand-appeared very
restive. g He consequently fixed his
ewes on it, and thus in some degree
! diverted his attention from an .Asiatic
lion known by the name of "Tyrant,"
/ against whom he had been cautioned
only that morning to keep carefully
to his instructions. It is necessary
here to state that when performing
/ lions are tanned there is q line drawn,
or what is known as sthe ofice," Tin
technichaI phraseology, by which the
beasts are taught to regard that line
as limit beyond which the perform
er must not pass, knowing, if he does
so, that the consequences are most
dangerous. The presumption is that
this line was oversfDpped, and Mrs.
Manders' opinion. whose experience
in these matters, and who suggests
this as primary cause cause, is entif
tied to consideration. The coffee"
having been passed, Maccarte who
was attired as Roman gladiator, was.
returning his falchion to its sheath,
! and clipping, fell on the floor of the
den. Tyrant fastened on him, seiziug
| him by the shsunches, and then, the
African liono fastened on to his arm
! less shoulders.w Maccarte immediate
" called upon the keepers for help,
and meanwhile to fire. He then drew
/ the short Roman blade which formed
part of his costume, and commenced
fighting desperately with the lion
iTyrant, thrusting the sword into its
face, mouth and eyes. The Gro owd, as
iis usual in such cases, crowded panic-
stricken around, and effectually pre-
4 vented the approach of the men who
were used to the habits of the ami
mails. The shouts of the audience, the
desperate and manfull struggle of the
/ fated man, and the smell of the blood
4 which was streaming from the butt
tocks of Maccarta excited the other
animals, and their savage instinct was
/ awakened A third lion---an Abys-
4 synian one-seized him by the ribs,
and then u fve-year-old lion, and an
especial favorite of the lion tanner,
caught him by the head, literally
scalping him, the flesh hanging down
his neck. The treacherous favorite
had no sooner accomplished this work
than he retained quietly to his corner.
The deadly struggle progressed, and
Mr.. Birchall, who from the first had
; been most active, placed iron scrapers