National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-02-02
4 Ho,yj6le scene tn II Wcaageric.

4 Nosvi6{e Scene Ia u Wcadgelie.
The lion tanning business az n
part of the modern mcnagcric ought
10 be about played ont The latest
and most horrible story Of its dan.
,'er comes to us from England, where
Ia a country exhibition Of wild ami.
mails, lion tanner was fallen foul
of hy five lions, into whose cage he
had entered, and torn to pieces and
ohewed up before an asonizcd crowd
of spectators in the most shocking
manner conceivable. We give some
of the distressing particulars -
When performing lions are tanned
there is Il line drawn, or what is
known rs the Office in technical
phlascology, by which the beasts
are taught 10 regard that line as a
limit beyond wlieh the performer
must not pass, knowing that il he
does SO the consequences 10 be e..
pectcd are NEST dangerous. The
presumption is that this line was
oycrstepped, ard Maccartc. who
was attired as a Roman gladiator.
was returning his ialchion TO its
sheath, but, slipping, he fell on the
floor OF the den. Tyrant (the name
of the largest lion, fastened Oh him,
Selling him by the launches, and
then the African lion fastened on
to his armless shoulder. Maccarte
Immediately called upon the keepers
for hep, and meanwhile to fire
He then drew short Roman blade
which formed part OF his costume,
and commenced fighting desperate.
" with the lion Tyrant, thlusting
the sword into its face, mouth and
eyes, The crowd, pane stricken,
crowded around and ciltctually pre-.
vented the approach of the men
who were used to the habits Of the
animals. The shouts of the audi
cncc, the desperate and maniul
struggle of the iated man, aud the
smell OF the blood which was stream
ing from Maccarte, iuctcd the 9th
or animals, and their savage instinct
was awakened. A third lion-an
Abyssinlan One--scized him by the
ribs, and then a five year old lion,
and an especial favorite with the
lion tanner, caught him by the head,
literally scalping him. the flesh hang
ing down lis neck. The trCacher.
ous iavorite had no sooner accom-
Ilished this work than he returned
quietly to Ills corner. The deadly
struggle progressed, aud Mr.. Birch
all, who had from the first been
most active, placed iron scrapeIS in
tie fire TO heat them. C Pistols and
guns were discharged, but uuiortu'
natcly were only loaded with blank
cartridge, and The blazing Of gun.
powder failed to drive the animals
from their quarry Meanwhile the
irons were heated, an iron shutter
20 separate the animals in the cage
when an opportunity offered was in
readiness, and Mr.. Birchall and an
assistant succeeded in beating off
the animalS-the fitch, having in the
time scented and tasted the blood
which streamed out Of tie carriage,
added his fangs to those which had
already played such lIovoc with the
human form PROSTATE before them.
The sliding door WAS pushed in:
three of the animals, being driven
away with hot irons, were separated
and the lion that had seized Mac
carte by the shoulder was driven
into Il corner. The shutter was
partially opened to drive him in
among the others, when Il fourth
Infatuated beast seized Maccarte
Just above the boot, and dragged
him in among them again. Then
The irightlul work vert on again for
a few slckcning and houii} ing mo-
mentS. Hot irons were now avail
able, and the brutes being driven
off, the poor and almost pulseless
piece Of humanity was drawn out
from the place it was fLtcd he ncv
or more should enter. He sustain
ed sufficient sensihility to speak TO
his warm hearted colleagues a few
faint words, praying them not to
take him away 10 receive medical
aid, as he knew that he was a dead
man. His anxious friends carried
him tenderly to the iniirmnry where
after few moments he breathed
his las, after muttcIiug a few inco-
hercnt sentences.