Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-02
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A HORRIBLE SCENE IN A MENAGER-
1E.-The lyon-taming business as a part
of the modern menagerie ought to be
about PLAYED out. The latest and most
horrible story of its danger comes to us
from England, where in country exhi-
bition of wild animals, a lion-tamer was
fallen foul of by FIVE lions, into whose
cage he had entered, and torn to pieces
and chewed ap before an agonizeo crown
g snoot.tors in the most shocking man
ner conceivable. We give some of the
distressing particulars When perform
ing lions are tanned there is line drawn,
or what is known as "the office" in
technical phraseology, by which the
beasts are taught to regard that line as
limit beyond which the peformer must
not pass, knowing, if he does SO, the con-
sequences to be expected are most dan
gerous. The presumption is that this
line was overstepped, and Maccarte, who
was attired as Roman gladiator, was re-
turning his falchion to its sheath, but,
slipping, he fell on the floor of the den.
"Tyrant," (the name of the largest lion)
fastened on him, Selling him by the
launches, and then the African lion fas-
tened on to his armless shoulder Maccar-
te Immediately called upon the keepers
for help, and meanwhile to fire. He then
drew a short Roman blade which formed
part of his costume and commenced
fighting desperately with the lion Tyrant,
thrusting the sword into its face, mouth
and eyes. The crowd, panic stricken,
crowded around and efiectuallyprevented
the approach of the men who were used
to the habits of the animals. The shouts
of the audience, the desperate and man
full struggle of the fated man, and the
smell of the blood which was streaming
from Maccarte, melted the other animals
and their savage instinct was awakened.
A third lion-an Abyssinian one--seiz-
ed him by the ribs, and then fve-year-
old lion, and an especial favorite of the
lion-tamer, caught him by the head, lit
orally scalping him, the flesh hanging
down his neck. The treacherous favor
lite had no sooner accomplished this work
than he returned quietly to his corner,
The deadly struggle progressed, and Mr..
Birchall, who had from the first been
most active, placed iron scrapers in the
fire to heat them. Pistols and guns were
discharged, but they, unfortunately, were
only loaded with blank cartridge, AND
the blazing of gunpowder failed to drive
the animals from their quarry. Mean
while the irons were heated, an iron shut
ter to separate the animals in the cage
when an opportunity offered was in read
mess, and Mr.. Birchall and an assistant
succeeded in beating off the. animals
the fifth, having in the time scented ant
tasted the blood which streamed out o
the carriage, added his fangs to thos
which had already played such havo
with the human form PROSTATE befor
them. The sliding door was pushed in
three of the animals, being driven ava,
with hot irons were separated, and the
the lion that had seized Maccarte by th
shoulder was driven in corner. Ih
shutter was partially opened to drive hir
among the others, when fourth infur
ated beast seized him just above the boo
and dragged him in again among then
Then the frghtful work went on agai
for a few sickening and horrifying mt
ments. Hot irons were now available
and the brutes were driven off, the poe
and almost pulseless piece of humanit
was drawn out from the place it w'
fated he should never more enter. l.
sustained sufficient sensibility to speak
his warm-hearted colleagues a few fan
words, praying them not to take hi
away to receive medical aid. as he kne
that he was dead man. His anxio'
friends carried him tenderly to the j
Urinary, where after few moments
breathed his last, after muttering fe
incoherent sentences.