Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-05-22
MlNGLED BY A LION.
A Trainers Experience in
Boston Theatre.
DOGS COME TO HIS AID.
Finally Rescued From an Awful Death
by Two Brave Assistants.

BOSTON, May 22.-Death In lions jaws
came near being the finale Of Heinrich
Mehrmann's act last night Two thou
sand pairs of Mortified eyes saw him
knocked prostrate on the Columbia thea
ter stage; 1000 voices rose in cries of terror
as his blood splashed in the sawdust. The
lion tanner seemed very near his end. But
two dauntless masters Of the savage
beasts, William Judge and Fritz Mas,
came speedily to his assistance. With
blood flowing from many deep and ragged
wounds, Mehrmann staggered from the
ring, with smile on his face, AS he re-
treated from the wild and joyful applause
of the audience. And the lion-cowed,
trembling, he sneaksd to his cage before
the whip Of the man whom he could hate
but not conquer.
The act was over The audience was
bestirring itself preparatory to goiug,
while the beasts on the stage were filing
out to their cages.
'Come, Nero" said Mr.. Mehrmann to
the tawny giant, as IL showed no dispo-
sition to move.
Nero never budged, but crouched low
and drew his heavy lips back from his
great teeth. Mehrmann brought his whip
into the air.
The house WAS as still as a sepulehre
The
People stopped Moving.
Down came the lash sharply on Nero's
yellow hide. The audience saw flash.
Two giant paws few out and stopped on
Mehrmann's breast.
Down he went like shot, rolling help
lessly In the sawdust Nero's foot on his
breast, while the bars shook from the
tremendous yowls that rushed from the
lions cavernous larynx.
The Hons growls were drowned in the
clamor Of alarm. Every one thought it
was all up with Mehrmann.
Mingling with the general shouting
were the piercing barks of the Russian
hounds, which, true to their duty, had at
tackled the lion from all sides. But he
swept them down with lightning strokes
OF one paw, while he held fast the trainer
with the other.
Suddenly Judge, mere boy, bounded
into the cage. Behind him came Fritz
Mas, another of the keepers. They were
armed with double-pronRed forks. Nero
saw them coming. He pulled his claws
with cruel rending of the flesh from
the trainers body and turned to meet his
assailants.
Judge darted upon the beast and ia bbed
the steel Ia its hide, while Mehrmann, de-
spite the loss of blood, came to his feet in
an instant and
Fiercely Assaulted the Lion.
Thrice around the ring, growing and
barring his teeth, rushed Nero before the
angry keeper. and at last he fed into the
farthest corner of his cage.
Judge deliberately followed him and
removed his collar. Then every man on
the stage entered the cage. and with the
utmost delight administered to Nero a
united thrashing which he will ever re-
membe
Meanwhile Mehrmann's coat and shirts,
drenched with blood and full of long
rents. were removed. The lions claws
had been plunged into his left arm, the
breast over his heart, his abdomen, and
also In his hip.
As Mehrmann was passing the large
cage he called Nero to the bars, and the
lion licked the trainers hands In the
most friendly manner. 1t was his first
offence.
Mehrmann is well cut up, but will be
all right unless blood poisoning results,
as it Is very apt to do. He will appear as
usual, however, in order to maintain his
control over the animals, but the heavy
work will be done by his assistants.