The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-02-03
Terrible Death ofa Lion Tanner.

The Manchester (EngIaud) Guardian con
tuins the following: A dTeadinl scene hap
pened in Manders' Menagerie, Market uare
Bolton, Thomas Maccarte being attacked and
killed by lions as he was performing in their
midst. 1t was the last evening of the exhi-
bition, and Maccarte Undertook to give an
extra performance. In the cage which he
entered were five liens. The animals had
been put through their leapiDg exercises,
when Maccarte noticed that one. full-groWn
Asiatic. was restive and showed his teeth
lie drew his sword and pointed it threat
eningiy at the lions mouth His attention
being thus diverted from the other animals
young African lion crept stealthily ont
from the group and sprang towards Mac
carte. selz'ng him by his right hip aud throw
Ing hlm down. AT the samo time the Asiatic
lion fastened itself upon his head, tearing off
portion OF the scalp. A scene of the wild
est confusion ensued-women screaming and
men running about in all directions in search
OF weapons. II is usual in Man6srs' p,era.
gerie to keep a number of irons con,,npoIiv
heated ior emergencies. but on this occasion
lhey had been removed, and fresh irons had
to ne placed in the fire,
Maccatte fought desperately with his
sword, infiicting some fearful gashes OR the
faces Of both lions. One of the other lions
: now seized the unfortunate man by his only
arm. fraciuring 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 amongst the animals
/ Revolvers aud rifles we're accord;r Civ pro-
/ cured. and whilst some fired blank cartridges
/ full IN the faces of the irfuriated beasts.
/ others probed them with heated irons, sab
! bed them with forks. and heat them with a
! ladder and iron scrapers Eventually slide
was introduced between the bars of the cage
/ tehind which Mr. Birchall, the agent. and
/ John Ryan. one of the keepers, drove four of
/ tie lions. At the fifth lion more shots were
/ fired. hut 1t was not until the heated bars
were applied to the nose of the animal that
/ it relirquished its hold and ran behind the
partition.
Maccarte then staggered to his feet, but
ere he could reach the door. and before the
/ Side could be C osed. the African lion again
rushed out. seized the poor fellow again by
| the foot, aud dragged him back into the cor
ner among the other animals Again the
| frightful struggle went on. Maccarte was
: dragged mp and down by the lead aud leg,
three or four times. the floor being complete
ly saturated with blood. Snme fes being
loaded with shot were now dis i>charged among
the savage brutes. and with several irons
now heated to a red glow. they were beaten
into a corner and the partition closed agains
/ them. MacCarte then released, still
conscious. AS he was borne to the Iufirmary
he exclaimed to a fellow won kman, Harry
| am done for 10 addition to the back
part Of the scalp, all the fie,h had been tori
from the thighs, the right arm was fractured
in two places. as well as badly lacerate,
from the shoulder to the head the chest haC
been lacerated. and the homes of the pcIvi
had pieces bitten cut of them. He died il
ten minutes after his admission TO the In
firmary. Deceased was 80 year of age. wa
a Catiye of Cork, and was married.