Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-19
CONSERVATION Reigns In a Wild
Animal Show at Oskaloo-
sa's Carnival
KEEPER ATTACKED BY A LION
In Its Eaeerness to Obtain the Warm
Meat Being Fed to the Lions One of
the Beasts Strikes Down the Keeper
Attendants Save the Mans Life
Bears in a Panic.
Special to Times-eRpublican.

Speclal to Times eRpublcan.
Oskaloosa, June lettings were in
real uproar yesterday morning ut the
wild animal show owned by Brett
kreutz & Goldsmith, of Milwaukee, and
exhibiting in this city as a part of the
of the animals, Joe Gordon while en-
gagged in feeding the lions, was struck
by one of them and quite badly torn
about the head and side. The fellow
was rescued from the cage by the at
tachas of the show and was taken to
a doctors office, where attention was
given to his wounds. Ii was necessary
to make number of stitches in the
wounds to close them. The scratches
are severe but not serious. The mans
clothing was much torn in the conflict
and he appeared to be badly hurt.
The accident was the result of feed
ing the animals. and was probably due
to the careiessness of the keeper. or
the assistant trainer, who was giving
the food. The animals were not en-
ragged or angry at the time. and the act
was committed by the lion in his eager
ness TO get at his food. According to
custom and for reasons known to keep
ers the animals are fed warm chickens
about two times weekly. The chicken
is killed and given to the animal with
the warm blood flowing. This is what
Keeper Gordon started 10 do yesterday
morning. Colonel +. j. Goldsmith, the
trainer, and who is a part owner of
the show, has been doing the feeding,
but Gordon, who has been at work I'M
der him, desired TO do the work yes
.terday morning. He had killed
chicken ana was at the entrance of the
arena. The liors. eager TO get their
meal, sPrang over each other in their
mad tgste Ia be The first 10 have their.
appetite satisfied. Gordon sought to
assert his mastery over the brutes. and
10 make one of the animals wait for its
turn. TIE lion knows nothing but
the desire to get at his food when the
meal IS in sight, and this particular
beast was no exception to the rule.
When Keeper Gordon attempted to
keep the chicken away from him the
lion sIrang at him and struck ter
rife f,ow at him that tore away his
shirt and cut a cash in his side. Cor
don stumbled in his effort to avoid the
attack and fell to the floor. AS he fell
forward the lion struck at him again
hitting him a CHANGING blow on the
head and infiicting a couple of deep and
long stratches. Everything about the
tent was confusion in an instant. The |
lions became terrified and angerei and |!
the bears that are kept in the same !
cage with the lions. saw that some |
thing was wrong and tried TO get to a |
place of safety. Trainer Goldsmith and /
assistant, named Louis Schlenk, and /
one of the owners. Otto +. Breitkreutz |
were on hand in an instant. They en- |
tered the cage without hesitation and |
acted quickly Before the lion had a /
chance TO do further mischief, he felt /
the determined prick of a pitchfork in I
his side, and heard the commanding I
voice of his trainer. He was forced
back from the PROSTATE man, who was .
pulled from the cage TO place OF
safety, and hurried to the physicians .
office to receive attention. as he was
bleeding profusely. He was dazed and I
badly frightened by the accident and
appeared at first to be seriously hurt.
His escape from death was in truth by
narrow margin, and the wonder is
that the man could be as cool as he
was in the face of what occurred