Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-14
A RASH REPORTER
sy AN IIt-RATuRED ANIMAL.


ST.. LorIs, April Is the fair grounds
was to. day the scene Of an unusually dis
tressins and peculiar accident John J.
Jennings, Q reporter on the Post Dispatch,
was sent by his city editor to write .
lengthy notice about the winter quartso
Of W. W. Coles circus, which are ct the
grounds, and in the course OF an interview
with George Conkling the lion tanner.
Jennings ventured the assertion that there
vas NO danger attaching to Mr.. Con Kings
apparently thrill ling appearance In the
midst Of the Gagged Lions. In sub
stantiating his ssssrtion hs declared his
willingness to 60 into the den, providing
Mr.. Conklins msde the first entrance, Al
first the lion tanner laughed ct Jsnning'
80 much about Il that he at last agreed 70
let him 90 into the cage. Jennings 10 the
same rash little gentleman who allowed
Hermann, the magician, TO fire him out Of
q cannon across the auditorium Of the
Grand Opera House into net three yearD
ago. The cannon trick Was done during .
performance, and the journalist had very
marrow escape from
Breaking His Neck.
This afternoon Conkling. Who has been
handling lions since 1868, and who has two
new lions in the den, made the FIRST e.
trance, whipped the animals mp, and after
out. He told Jennings that there wHs
danger with the two new lions, aud tried
to dissuade him from going In, but the re.
porter was rashly stubborn about the thing,
and armed with Conkling's small rawhide,
went boldly into the den. Conkling stood
at the cage doors and watched the animals
closely, ready, At O moment, 10 run into
the newspaper mans assistance. The lions
lay close 10 the sides Of the cage ~ Jen.
nings stood In the center, and divided
their attention between the reporter an
Conklipg. They .growled hereely., and
rlarcd al the intruder, but Jennings shook
touched Sandy, one OF the old lions, on the
rump, whereai he nan across the stage, fQl.
lowed by two Of the Others. and soon the
three animals we're jumping about oheying
the reporters word Of command, leapin6
over the whip and lying down q e.eEantly
as they could do for Conkling himself.
The lion tanner said nothing, but had his
hand In the cage door watching Jennings
and the animals a they shifted positions.
The reporter had been 10 the cage probably
two minutes when he started 10 put
"GeorEe," the second Of the cid lions.
through the trick OF jumping over his back
while he leaned forward He touched the
animals forcpaws with the whip just -
Conkling does and over the reporters back
went old George" One of the new lions
Just put into the cage this winter, In Al
tempting " follow George
Knocked JeaHings DsWa. -
He fell toward . corner Of the stsge, In
which the second new lion that had refused
TO take part In the amateur lion tanners
performance had remained lying through.
out the whole time. Look OUT" shouted
Conkling. dsshing into the cage and max.
ing dash for the PROSTATE Newspaper man.
He was too late, however. The lions claws
fell on the top Of Jennings head and tore
away almost the entire scalp, A second
stroke tore the reporters shoulder open.
and, Is Conkling dragged him away, the
lions claws were fastened In the shoe Of
his left foot, and tore the covering OF.
Conkling had the palm OF his right hand
opened by one OF the animals claws.
the cage for few minutes, the lion
roaring and rushing about while Conkling
thrust Jennings through the cage door 70
two assistants. and remained behind TO be.
labor the animals into quiet with short
bar OF iron. Jennings was taken from the
ground unconscious, and the physicians
lear that he Is fatally injured. Great In.
dignation prevails among the journalists
friends who heard Of the accident, and
there is talk OF having Conkling arrested,
first, for having allowed Jennings 10 eI.
pose himself 10 auch danger, and In the
second place for not telling Jennings thst
the lion that injured him Vas bad, and 10
always kept chained In acorner OF the cage.
This latter circumstance IL q fsct. Conk.
ling himself never ventures within reach Of
this lion. lie Is, therefore. 70 blame for
SLOWING Jennings TO risk his life In the
rash manner in which he did.