Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-06-21
TIGER KIII.rD GID.
TIGER KILLED GIRL.
Broke From Cage lnnd CHARGED Into
Crowd Mt Circus.


Twin Falls, Idaho. The fune raj o.
four-year old Ruth Rozell, who was
killed by Royal Bengal tiger, which
escaped from its cage at the perform
ance Of the Sells-Floto circus here yes
terday afternoon, will be held toner
row. Mrs. Rozell, the mother of the
child, who was knocked down and
badly shaken by the tiger, is overcome
with grief and the shock of her expert
ence.
The tiger charged into the crowd,
killed the little girl and Shetland
and manned several other spectators
and ponies before it was shot and kill
ed by a man in the audience. For few
minutes there was panic in the men,
agere, and women screamed and faint
ed. The elephants tugged at their
chains and trumpeted wildly, and
there was great commotion until tie
tiger rolled over lead in front OF the
main entrance. s.
Hundreds were in the menagerie
tent at the afternoon performance
when the time came for feeding the an
imals. Market, the tiger, and his mate,
Agnes, had been restless for some time.
AZ the sight of the meat, Market beat
furiously with his paws ON the door o.
the cage. The door gave way, and the
tiger sprang from his cage to the neck
of Shetland pony fifteen feet away.
The tigers keeper seized bar and
struck the animal between the eyes
Market released his grip on the ponyfs
neck and leaped upon the back of an
other pony. Again the keeper felled
him with The iron, and he relinquished
his hold of the second pony only to
seize third, Another stiff blow from
the iron drove the tiger from his prey
and he leaped into the crowd.
Market headed for the main entrance
forty feet away. In his rush he struck
several people with his shoulders,
knocking Them down.
Mrs. S. E. Rozell, of Twin Falls, and
her daughter Ruth could not escape
the tigers rush, and were Dor ne to the
ground. The tiger held Mrs. Rozell
with his paws, while his fangs sank in.
to the neck of the child. j. w. Bell,
Twin Falls blacksmith, was standing
beside Mrs. Rozell when she was at
tackled, His wife and child rem, too,
were with him, and at the mercy of
the beast.
Thrusting his family aside, Bell drew
a revolver and opened fire on the tiger
at distance of three feet. When the
first bullet struck Market behind the
shoulders, he WINGED and opened his
jaws, growing viciously and lash,ng
his tail against the wall of spectators.
The second bullet caused him to release
Mrs. Rozell and her daughter from the
grasp of his paws, and the third put
him on the run.
Mrs. Rozell and her daughter were
taken to the office of physician,
where everything possible WAS done
for the child. Ii was found that the
teeth of the tiger had frightfully LAGER
ated the neck and breast Of the little
one, and much blood was slost before
the wounds could be closed. The little
girl died two hours later, and Mrs. Re-
cell was removed 10 her home.
Bells aim was good, as was shown
when the tiger was skinned and six
wounds, any one of which might have
been fatal, were found in the carcass.
Ar Rozeli, the father of the tigers
victim. is engaged i'll the transfer bC ST.
ness aud is well known here.
Hundreds crowded aoout the door of
the doctors office from The time the
little girl was brought in until the re-
port Of her death was announced, but
there We're no harsh exl ressions. Thus
far no criminal action has been brought
against the circus management.