Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-11-12
From The World Of Thursday:

Captain Alfred Clark, who does the
lien act with the Carnival show now
on exhibition In this city, and Sultan.
Fthe untamable lion." figured In most
thrilling act last night in which the
lion tanner nearly lost his life and
who is now in the City Hospital in a
critical condition
Capt. Clark's last lion act at each
performance is to enter the cage of
Sultan" a large and fine specimen
of the African lion. which has never
been tanned and which it is said, has
killed couple men and three years
ago nearly killed Clark at the James.
town Exposition.
Last night about $50 o'clock Clark
entered the cage as usual and nut the
lion through his act. which Is simply
jumping around while Clark fires
blank cartridges In the cage. This
done, the man quickly opens the cage
door and makes his exit into the safe.
ty cage. But last night Clark WAS not
quite quick enough in getting through
the door and Sultan" with a bound
from the far end OF the cage, grabbed
Clark by the arm and pulled him back
into the cage and then fastened his
jaws In the mans shoulder and side
OF the neck and bore him to the floor
where he held him in a vice-like grip.
Women screamed with terror. men
shouted and ia minute the whole
I tent was In an uproar. the spectators
at least, believing the man would sure
ly be killed. Employees of the show
with lrods made a vain effort 10 beat
the lion off. but he held on to his vic.
tim with the cruel tenaclty of his spe-
cies, sinking his sharp teeth into the
mans qu'vc'ing flesh, while many OF
the terrified spectators rushed pell-
nell from the tent
Meanwhile Tony Herbertino, who
works the leopards in the trick animal
act, heard the connection and arose
equal TO the emergency. Quickly en-
tering the cage he tried to beat the
ION off with his small club or brighten
him by shooting blank cartridges In his
face. But the king Of beasts, now
having the taste OF human blood. was
rot to be frightened off in that way
Then Tony called for big club, and
show attendant handed him a tent
S axe pin through the cage bars. With
this heavy club Tony belabored the
ion over the head time and again, but
he still held on TO the man who, by
this time was crying out to be re-
leased. Finally the lion let go
of the man and retreated few
steps, but returned immediate
ly 10 his victim Then men out
side jammed the sliding door through
the bars to shut the lion off from Clark.
But the sliding door failed to work
properly in the excitement OF the mo-
ment and again Sultan sprang on
Clark before he could be dragged out
Of the cage, tearing the door to pieces
in his rage. Then some one handed
Tony an iron pick, aud the leopard
man renewed his attack on Sultan"
and finally beat him back. and Clark's
release Was erected.
Word was telephoned to the City
Hospital for the ambulance and Clark.
bleeding from many ugly wounds and
with his clothing nearly torn from his
body was hurried to the hospital
where DR.. T. K Oates and DR.. III. G..
Tonkin dressed his wounds.
IT was found. on examination. that
the man was more seriously injured
than at first surmised. Two deep pune
lures were made by the lions teeth
in the back and left front of Clark's
neck, severing' vein. and punctures
we're found In the back and both arms,
while his right thigh was badly iacer-
ated by the lions claws, requiring
dozen or more stitches. Besides this
the man was crushed about the RIBS
and he received heavy blow or the
left chest from the lions paw.
Clark rested fairly well last night
and 1t was thought then that his
chances for an early recovery were
reasonably assuring. This morning,
however, his condition took more I'M
favorable turn. Traumatlc pneumonia
developed as result of the blow on
the chest. so that at noon today his
condition was considered very grave
and his recovery seemingly doubtful.
He Is not constitutionally strong any
how.