Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-16
DR.. VESTS SERVICE REQUIRED
The Snowman Was Passing Close to
the Animals Cage When the Big
yellow paw Descended, One Claw
Laying open the MANS Upper Lip.

Bostock Wild Animal Show is getting
ready to open to the public on Wednes
dav night an incident occurred yester-
day afternoon which would have caused
great excitement in any other place than
q menagerie.
This was when the huge lion. Nero,
ripped open the lip of his keeper. De
Kenso. better known as Dare Devil Dick.
Any man who did not possess an extraor-
binary amount of nerve would have taken
an afternoon off. but Dick was at work
again five minutes after the lip had been
stitched up: what's more. he would not
let the doctor shave off his moustacle in
order to be able to ply the needle more
accura tely.
The accident happened in this way:
Keeper Dlck is walking along near the
animal cages He is not noticing the
beasts for he is busy directing some
whitewashers Old Nero. the huge lion.
seems to be asleep. but he has one wick
ed. bloodshot eye upon the lookout tor
mischief. Dick brushes by the cage. and
the next second he is lodging great
yellow paw which hooks viciously at
his head. But the keeper is not quick
enough-a claw tears into his left nos
/
bare open to the cum.
DR.. WEST CALLED.
Dick did not want to stop working.
but his wife and the manager of the
show persuaded him to see doctor. he
would not have given in then, but the
blood was flowing so fast that it kept
him from working. DR.. W. ]. West. OF
1920 west Main street was called in. and
in a few minutes had the lip stitched up
neatly They tried to keep Dick from
working any ,,ore that evening. but he
fel. himself sufficiently disgraced by be-
| ing so etfeminate as to see doctor. so
he went back to position closer to the
| lion than before. but this time he took
care TO keep his eyes wide open.
| with Dc lIenso his wife came up AND
| seemed indignant TO think it took any
nerve to bother about such a scratch.
..Why YOU know they call him Dare
| Devil Dick she said land If that
lion had chawed his legs off ne would
! have craw'od back into the cage to nght
1t out" And then she proceeded to tel'
| about q real adventure which her nus
band had with this same lion out in
| iOes Moinns last year.
| PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.
| De Kenso was il. the cage with Nero,
| and by some accident the latch by winch
| the door was opened would not worn.
and so Tho kceDer was left IN with the
| fierce beast He was afraid to call or
| TO show any sign Of uneasiness for this
would have brought an attack instantly.
| so he waited quietly for some one to
| co7oe and let him out. but in few mo-
f1cnts The lion became curious OF MS
| lzeepcr's remaining in the cage so long.
and began TO sniff at his legs. The man
| must have then made unconsclously
some gesture of surprise. for, before ne
| could dodge, the Ion had ripped terrible
| cash in his arm with his claws. Blood
| poured from the wound, and. a sight OF
| this the animal sprang on De kenso in
a fury The man had only stool WITH
! which TO defend himself. and the lion
| cared no more for this than if 1t had
| been q toothpicl1 He knocked the man
! down. and would undoubtedly have torn
! him in pieces If the other keepers had
+, not heard the noise, burst the door open,
! and driven of the lien with whips.
PROFESSION FEW FOLLOWS.
| Its only q question OF time. said the
| n,arager, when a keeper will be killed
! They all know this and consequently
! their profession has as few followers as
! any in the world. Powerful hounds are
| taken into the cage with them, but II the
! lions become aroused nothing can save
/ the trainers.
! Zen minutes after the accident
] Yesterday afternoon De Kenso was
j walking around as unconcernedlE
/ as if nc were in Sunday school,
/ and Nero was looking out Of his cal sc
! with such a sweet expression that you
I would have thought butter wouldnt
melt in his mouth.