Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-02-22
gis s:flIaufras.
Lfon-Tamer Torn to Pieces by
Five Lions.

were being given PRIOR 20 tne InenaSSer-
| ie proceeded to Bury, and an extra per-
formance was announced and took plaee
at 1920 O'Clock. Attached to the show
was a man named Thomas Maccarte,
whose professional appellation is Mas
sarti, the Lion-Tamer," and he at this
extra performance entered the Lion den
| for the last time. Maccarte was q
young man. not more than thirty-four
years old, but he had been associated
with travelling exhibitions of this kind
from very early period. He had pre-
viously lost an arm when performing
with Messrs. Bell d. Myers Circus at
Liverpool. He had previously been
trained by Messrs. Batty as lion-tam-
er, and, having joined them for short
time, he was engaged by the late Mr..
Manders to succeed Maccomo.
He was very bold and adventurous
| man, and had been frequently caution
ed respe citing his rashness. The un-
fortunate man commenced his perform-
ances on Wednesday evening, when he
was hardly in proper condition to DO
! so; and, having exhibited the gorilla
and the serpents, he entered the lion
den. At this time it was calculated
| five or six hundreds persons were pres
ent. and the five lions in the den We're
put throug their performances with the
usual success and applause. On all gem
eral occasions heated bars of iron and
| iron scrapers are in readiness, but on
this fatel evening the matter had been
| neglected.
The five lions were all powerful ami
mails. and the unfortunate man on en-
| tering the cage noticed black-maned
African lion, which had only so recently
as Monday last bitten his hand, appear
ed very restive. He consequently fixed
his eyes on it, and this in some degree
diverted his attention from an Asiatic
| lion, known by the name of Tyrant,
against whom he had been cautioned to
| his instructions. 1t is necessary here to
note that when performing lions are
! tanned there is line drawn, or what Is
known as ssthe office,r in technical
phraseolgy, by which the beasts are
taught to regard that line as limit be-
yond which the performer must not
pass, knowing, If he does so, the cOnse-
auences to be expected are most danger
Gus. The presumption is that this line
was overstepped, and Maccarte, who
was attired as Roman gladiator, was
returning his falehion to its sheath,
slipping, he fell on the floor of the den.
| Tyrant fastened on him, seizing him. by
thd launches, and then the African lion
fastened on to his armleSs shoulder.
Maecarte Immediately called on the
/ keepers for help, meanwhile to fire.
! He then drew the short Roman blade
which formed part of his costume,
and commenced fighting desperately
with lion Tyrant, thrusting the sword
| into his face, mouth and eyes. The
crowd, panic-strieken, crowded around
and effectually prevented the approach
\ of the men who were used to the habits
| of the animals. The shouts of the aud
ience, the desperate and manful strug-
gle 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-seized
him by the ribs, and then five-year-Old
| lion, and an especial favorite of the
lion-tamer, caught him by the head,
literally scalping him, the flesh hanging
down his neck. The treacherousf favor
! :te 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, unfor-
| tunately, were only loaded with blank
cartridge, and the blazing of gunpowder
| failed to drive the animals from their
| quarry. Meanwhile the irons were
heated; an iron shutter to seperate the
animals in the cage was in readiness,
and Mr.. Birchall and an assistant sue
ceeded in beating off the animals; the
| fifth, having in the time scented and
tasted the blood, which streamed out
of the carriage, added his fangs to those
which had already played such havoc
| with the human for,n PROSTATE before
them. The sliding door was pushed
/ in; three of the animals, being driven
| away with hot irons, were separated,
and then the lion that had seized Mac
carte by the shoulder was driven ina
corner. The shutter was partially OPEN
ed to drive him among the Others,
| when fourth infuriated beast seized
| him Just above the boot, and dragged
him in again among them. Then the
| frightful work went on again for few
/ sickeningand horrifying moments. Hot
irons were now available, and the brutes
being driven of, the poor almost pulse
less piece of humanity was drawn out
from the place it was fated he never
more should enter. He sustained suf.
ficient sensibility to speak to his warm
| hearted colleagues a few faint words
praying them not to take him away to
receive medical aid, as he knew that he
was dead man. His anxious friends
carried him tenderly to the infrmary,
where, after few moments, he breath.
ed his last, after muttering few in.
coherent sentences. AS the shattered
frame was borne past Mrs Manders, he
family waved his hand and gave -hel
an expressive look, which conveyed
the words that he was past all hope o.
aid. Many of the shots fired enterei
the bodies of the animals, and they re
ceived great injury before they weIe
driven off their prey. The lion Tyran
is three and a half years old, and ha6
been brought up from whelp by Mrs
Manders. The animal having been 1
favorite, it was during the early part o
the training allowed to run about tha
portion of the caravan used as q habita
ton, and it freely gambolled with it
mistress. The only arm the deceased
had was streaked with deep gashe
from the shoulder to the hand; the seal
was torn right back, and from the hip
! to the knees, where he was seized from
behind, the muscles are completed,
torn out. There are pieces of flesh gon
from the ribs, and the bones of the pei
: Wis, which are the strongest in the hu
: man frame, have had pieces bite
clear out.-BoItoa (EngtttadD Ereni,,
! Ne,cs. III
) A San Francisco journal says: 18th
| ro,>oros. lad;ao hox,;nor ;rx-ask;..,f e.