West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-06-13

MRS ROZELL AND RUTH wElK BoRNg To
THE GROUND.
TIME came for feeding the animals.
Markell. the tiger, and his mate. Agnes.
had been restless for some time. At
the sight OF the meat Markell beat furl.
ously with his paws on the door OF the
cage. The door gave way. and the tiger
sprang from his cage To the neck OF a
Shetland pony fifteen feet away.
The tigers keeper seized bar and
struck the animal between the eyes.
Markell released his grip on the pony's
neck and leaped upon the back OF an
other pony. Again the keeper fclled
him with the iron. and he rellnquished
his hold OF the second pony only To
seize third. Another stlff blow from
the iron drove the tiger from his prey,
and he leaped into the crowd
The tent was well filled. and the peo
pie ned In every direction. most Of
them crowding out under the canvas.
One woman scrambled 20 the top OF an
animal cage and refused TO come down
until long after the tiger wns killed.
Shrill cries from the frightened ele.
plants aroused the keepers TO further
activity The guns kept 10y the keepers
for emergencies were seventy-hve feet
away. and had they been available
they could not have been used on ac.
count OF the danger TO spectators.
Women seized their children mud
dragged them from the path OF the
maddened tiger. and hundreds Of little
children clung to the skirts OF their
terrified mothers and scrambled to get
away.
Markell headed for the main entrance.
forty feet away. In his rush he struck
several people with his shoulders.
knocking them down.
Mrs S. f. Rozell Of Twin Falls and
her little daughter Ruth could not es
cape the tigers rush and were borne
10 the ground. The tiger held Mrs
Rozel with his paws while his fangs
sank into the neck Of the child. J. w.
Bell, Twin Falls blacksmith. was
standing beside Mrs ROzell when she
was attacked. His wife and children.
too. were with him and ~ the mercy
OF the beast.
Thrustlng his family aside. Bell drew
q revolver and opened FIRE on the tiger
nc distance Of three feet When the
first bullet struck Martel behind the
shoulders he WINGED and opened his
jaws. growing yiclously and lashing
his tail against the wall OF spectators.
The second bullet caused him to re-
lease Mrs. Rozell and her daughter
from the grasp Of his paws. and the
third put him on the run.
Bell followed firing three more bull
let's into the fleeing tiger as II ran out
side the tent Markell was sOrely hit.
but he managed TO crawl some distance
before he collapsed Recovering his
strength FOR an instant. the tiger turn
cd and started back toward the STAN
peding spectators. Bell was waiting
for the attack with his revolver re.
loaded. but the big beast had enough.
rolled over. snarling and biting at his
wounds. and expired In a few mo-
ments
Mrs Rozell and her daughter were
taken TO the Office Of q physician, where
everything possible was done for the
child. II was found that the teeth Of
the tiger had frightfully lacerated tho
neck and breast OF the little one, aud
much blood was lost before the wounds
sould be closed. The little girl died
ana Mrs. Rozell was removed 20 her
nome.
Markell was reputed 20 be one OF the
nrgest and best proportioned tigers on
exhibition Had II not been for Bells
presence Of mind and prompt action
more lives might have been sacrificed
Bells aim was good. as was shown
when the tiger was skinned and six
wounds any one Of which might have
brcu fatal. We're found I'm the carcass.