The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-14
THE LIGHTS WENT OUT,
A Terrible Accident at the
Midwinter Fair.
Boone's Arena Converted Into
a Scene of Horror.
An Animal Trainer Attacked by
Three Fierce Lions.
The Unfortunate Man FearfuiIy LAGER
ated by the Beasts-Colonel Boone
to the Rescus-Psnic-Strick-
en- Spectators.


BY the Associated Press
SAN Francisco, Feb. 13.-Carlo THE
man, an attendant in Colonel Daniel
Boone's wild animal show at the mid
winter fair, was attacked by three lions
tonight and so horribly mangled that be
may die.
The evening performance had been in
progress in Boone's arena for about hall
an hour and the circular enclosure was
filed with people. The wild animals
are exhibited in large cage in the cen
ter OF the arena, and it was time for the
lions to go on. Three huge beasts, Par
nell. Romeo and Commodore, were led
into the cage by Thiemsn, preparatory
to Boone's entrance.
Suddenly the electric lights went out.
There was short interval of silence,
when suddenly shrek of agony came
from the cage. 1t was followed by
roar of the enraged lions, the craunch
of their terrible jaws and the groans OF
the man in the cage. The large crowd
of spectators became panic-stricken and
started for the doors. Women shrieked
and tainted, but the crowd was finally
induced to remain seated by the at
tendants who had retained their pres
ence OF mind.
Finally lanterns we're brought, and
there in the cage lay Thieman, with the
three lions clawing and munching his
PROSTATE form. Colonel Boone seized
an iron bar and entered the cage.
With shouts and blows he drove the
beasts from their prey and dragged the
unfortunate man from the cage. 1t was
an exhibition Of bravery seldom seen,
and the big crowd cheered the gallant
colonel.
Thieman was taken to the receiving
hospital, where his wounds, 43 In num-
Der, were examined. BY one blow from
lions paw he had been acalped from
the forehead to the nape OF the neck.
Under each arm there were terrible
bites, where the lions had attempted to
reach a vital spot. One OF them nearly
succeeded, for he just missed large
artery. Thieman's arms, legs, thighs
and buttocks were also bitten and
scratched.
At the hospital he recovered conscious
ness and managed to tell his story. He
said he was attending to come OF the
cage fixtures when the lights went out.
The big lion, Parnell, jumped for him
and knocked him down with blow on
the head; the other two lions, Romeo
and Commodore, seized him under the
armpits and dragged him across the
cage. while Parnell made general on
slanght on his body.
The lions are all full grown beasts and
have been exhibited as trained animals
for some time. Thieman has been en-
animal tender for is years and was cou-
aidered one of the best in tina business.
Colonel Boone, in speaking OF the
affair. said it has always been the cue-
tom to have lanterns and lamps about
the arena in case the electric lights
should 20 out, as it is we'll known that
wild animals, no matter how we'll
,rained. will attack a man in the dark.
Bv some oversight the lanterns were not
in their usual places tonight, and it was
some time before thsy could be found.
To add to the horror of the situation,
the cage door became stuck and there
was some delay in opening it, when
Boone entered the cage to rescue THE
man.
Alter Thieman had been removed to
the hospital the people LETT the arena,
as they had seen enough wild animals
for one night, and the performance was
discontinued.
The doctors think there is posi-
biIity of Thieman's recovery unless
blood poisoning ensues.