The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-24
4 FfIGHTFUL DEATH.

Lion Tanner Torn to Pieces by Five
Lions-Horrible and SIckening De.
tatls-A Panfc.stricken Crowd Look.
Ing on.
From the Bolton tEngland) News.l
A series of farewell performances were be.
ing given prior to the menagerie proceeding
TO Bury, and an extra performance was an
nounced and took place ut 1870 o'clock. At.
tached to the show was man named Thomas
Maccarta. WHOSE professional appellatlon was
s'Massart, the Lion-tamer." and he at this eX-
tra performance entered the lions den for the
last lime. Maccarte was O young man not
more than thirly-four years old, but he had
been associated with travelling exhibitions of
this kind from very early period. He had
previously lost an arm when performing with
Messrs Bell & Myers's Clrcns at Liverpool.
He had previously been trained by Messre.
Balty as lion-tamer, and having Joined them
for q short time, he was engaged by the late
MFR. Manders to succeed Maccomo. He was q
very bold and adventurous man, and had
been frequently cautioned respecting his
rashness. The unfortunate man commenced
his performances on Wednesday evening,
when he was hardly in q proper condition 10
do 80; and having exhibited the gorilla and
the serpente, he entered the lions den. At
this lime 1t Is calculated five hundred or six
| hundred persons We're present, and the five
lions In the den were put through their per-
I formapces with tho usual success and ap-
planse. On oil general occasions heated bars
Of iron and irou scrapers are in readiness. but
on this fatal evening the matter had been
neglected
THE FIVE LIONS
were all powerful animals, and the unforlr-
| nate man ON entering The cage Doticed that
! black named African lion, which had only 80
recently as Monday last bitten his hand. ap-
| peared very r1silve. He consequently fixed
his eyes on 1t, and this in some degree divert
ed his attention from an Aslalic lion, known
by the name OF Tvrant, against whom he had
been cautioned only that morning TO keep
carefully TO his instructions. II ls necessary
here to note that when performing lions are
tanned there Is q line drawn, or what ts known
as '.the Office" In technical phraseology, by
which the beasts are taught 10 regard that
must not pass, knowing, IT he does 80, the
consequences To be expected are most dan.
gerouS. The presumption is that this line!
Wns overstppped. and maccarte. who was at
tired as a Roman gladiator, was returning his
falchion to It's Sheath, slipping he fell Oh the
floor of the den. Tyrant fastened on him,
selling him by the launches, and then the
African lion fastened on to his armless shoul.
der Maccarle Immediately called upon the
keepers fer help, and meanwhile to fire. he
then drew the short Roman blade which
formed a part Of his costume and commenced
lighting desperately with the lion Tyrant,
thrusting the sword into its face, mouth and
eyes. The crowd,
PANIC STRICKEN,
crowded around and efftclually prevented The
approach of the men who were used to the
habits of the animals. The shonts of the audi
ence the desperate and manfnl 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 li0n-an Abysslnian one
seized him by the ribs. and then five-year-
o!d lion, and an especial fav0rte OF the lion
tanner, caught him by the head, literally scalp
ing him, the flesh hanging down his neck.
The treacherous favorlle had no sooner accom-
pllShed this work than he returned quietly
to his corner.
TIE DEADLY STRUGGLE
progressed, and Mr.. Blrchall, who had from
ers 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 helped to drive Inc
animals trem- their quarry Meanwhile the
irons were heated, nm iron shutter to separate
the animals In the cage when on opportunity
offered was In readiness, and Dir. Blrchall and
an assistant succeeded in beating Of the anil
mails, the fifth, having In the time scented and
tasted the blood which streamed out OF the
carriage, added his fang5 10 those which had
already played such havoc with the human
form PROSTATE before them. The sllding-door
was pushed In; three of the animals, being
driven away with hot Irons, were separated,
and then the lion that had seized Maccarle by
the shoulder was driven In corner. The
shutter was partially opened to drive him
among the others, when q fourth infllrlated
beast seized him just above the boot and drag
ged him In again among them. Then
THE FRIGHTFUL WORK
went on again for few sickening and horIi-
fying moments. HIT irons were now avail
able, and the brutes being driven off, the poor
and ulmcst pulseless piece Of humanity was
drawn out from the place II was faled ne never
more should enter. He sustained sufficient
sensibilily TO speak to his warm-hearted COL
leagues few faint words, praying them not
to lake him away to receive medical aid, as he
knew that he was dead man. His anxious
fiiend5 carried him tenderly 10 the tn6rmsry,
where, alter o few moments, he breathed his
last after mutteIng few ineonesent sen
past Mrs. Manders, he family waved his
hand and gave her IN expressive 10 *, which
conveyed The words that he was past all
hone of aid Mlny of the shots fired
entered the bodies OF the aBimals, aud
they received great injuries before tney
were driven of their prey. The lion
T,rant is three ard half years old,
and had been brought mp from whelp
by Mis-. Manders. The animal having been a
lavoriIe, it was during the ear!y part of Its
trainlpg allowed to run about that portion OF
the caravan used as habitation, and it freely
gambolled with It's mistress. The sire OF this
animal was The one Lnat nearly worried Mac
como some time ago. The only arm the de-
ceased had was streaked with deep gashes
from the shoulder to the hand; the scalp was
torn light back, and from the hips TO the
knees, Where he was seized from behind, the
muscles are completely torn out. There are
pieces OF flesh gone from the RIBS, and the
bonrs of the peivls, which are the strongest
In the human frame, have had pieces bitten
clean out. AT the iGqnest on Thursday Mrs.
Maccarte said she had not seen her husband
since two o'clock on "Wednesday. He was not
under the influence Of liquor when he left
her. He was always afraid Of the lion which
first attacked him, and he had expressed
frar of il on Monday. His salary, with
perquisites, was about "a per week. The Rev.
Enoch Franks said he saw the deceased 60 into
the den. His opinion was that The deceased
had taken sufficient drink to make him fool
hardy. but he did not think any one could call
him drunk. The coroner said there was not
In his op nion anything in the evidence respect