Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-02-23
A SCENE OF TERROR.
II Occurs at n Midwinter Fair An.
NAL Show.
LION Tanner Thieman Attacked and IIor-
ribly Mangled by Three Beasts In
Their Cage-HeroicaIiy Res
cued by Col Boone.
HE DIES OF HIS INJURIES.

HE DIES OF Ills INJURIES.
SAN Francisco, Feb. 16.-Carlo THE
man, the animal trainer who was SO
horribly mangled by lions at Daniel
Boone's wild animal show on the expo
sition grounds Tuesday night, died of
MS injuries
During the performance at Bcone's
arena on the exposition grounds Tues
lay night Thieman, who is an animal
trainer of eighteen years ex-
perience, entered the cage occu-
pied by the three large lions,
Parnell, Romeo and Commodore,
| and began the usual performance, when
suddenly the electric lights went out
and the entire arena, in which several
hundred men, women and children
we're assembled, was enveloped in to-
tai darkness
1t Immediately became apparent that
things were not going right i'll the
lions cage, and soon Thieman's cries
Of distress thrilled the assembly with
the awful intelligence that he was be-
ing attacked by the ferocious
. full roaring, and the poor man,
who was now being dragged
about the cage and crunched and torn,
kept crying piteously for help. AS the
whole situation dawned fully on the
multitude the people became panic
stricken and the shouts of men and
screams of women and children min
yled together, making an indescribable
scene of terror and confusion.
All this was taking place in perfect
darkness, which rendered intelligent
action well nigh impossible At length
some one produced lantern and by it's
pickering light the awful peril of the
unfortunate trainer became for the
FIRST time visible TO the eye. The in
furiated animals were clawing and
munching the PROSTATE form and every
body held his breath, expecting every
moment 70 see the mans limbs torn
from their sockets and devoured.
AT this moment Col. Boone dashed
INTO the arena and threw himself
against the door of the cage. Some
cruel fate caused the door TO stick and
col. Boone made several herculean at
tempts before he succeeded in getting
{ open. Once inside the cage he
seized heavy iron bar, and when the
electric lights blazed up again he was
seen dealing terrific blows upon the
heads of the lions until he compelled
them to release their hold upon the un-
conscious man and look after their own
safety.
When Thieman was taken from the
cage he was found to he bruised and
,orn and bitten from head to foot. The
scalp was torn from his head
and he was bleeding from
core of wounds. lie was taken
% the receiving hospital on the
grounds, where he recovered conscious
less and related the occurrences in the
cage, describing how the lions attacked
him on the instant the lights went out,
bne of them telling him to the floor
with a single blow of his paw. AS soon
rs he was down they had him complete
y in their power and he had no chance
Tor battle.
1t is a fact well known to animal
trainers that Il lion will attack a man
he moment it finds itself alone with
him in the dark. 1t is customary to
keep lanterns constantly at hand for
Just such an emergency as this, but for
some reason this precaution was not
taken Tuesday night.
Thieman fingered till 10 o'clock
"Wednesday night when he succumbed
10 the shock and loss of blood and
quietly breathed his last He was con-
eidered one OF the best animal trainers
ia the country. The affair has created
profound sorrow throughout the city.