Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-06-24
HUNGRY LIONS KILL
MANAGER OF SHOW
Z. D. Dietrich Torn to Death by
Animals at Chicago.
BEASTS HAVE BLOODY FEAST
Theatrical Man Thrown to Floor OF
Cage BY Playful Cub and older
Animals Attack Him-Lioness
Fights to Save Victim.

.1Tich, twenty-four years old and Cor
nell graduate, was mangled and torn
70 pieces by five half-famished and
5lOod-craZed lions Gagged in a special
animal car in the yards of the Santa
Fe railroad at Clark and Sixteenth
streets.
The lions were the property of an
animal act which was to show at
q Chicago theater, and Dietrich was
manager of the company.
Had Made Pets of Animals.
1t was no part of his duties to enter
the cages, but he had made pets of
ahe animals, and his favorites were
Teddy" a powerful young beast just
grown from cubhood, and "Bess," an
old lioness, who had grown too old
Cor a desperate fight
in the car there was a large cage
knOwn as the arena cage" where
Teddy, Bess and four full-grown lions
were allowed to roam at will
Dietrich was interested in the year
old cub, which had been injured in an
accident, and visited the car to find
out how it Jared.
Bess, the old lioness, paced past
Dietrich, seemingly without recogni-
lion, but Teddy, the grown-up cub, rec
Ogn1zed his friend and playmate with
"A roar and launched his tawny body
at him with a spring that took him
half way across the stage.
The heavy padded paws of the
young lion struck Dietrich fairly on
ahe shoulders, and he was carried
down to the floor with the young lion
astraddle of his body Teddy cleared
himself from the PROSTATE body of
Dietrich and rolled over on his side.
But another tawny body flashed
through the air and great paw with
claws unsheathed, raked the side of
she fallen man from scalp to thigh
Old Bess Defends Her Friend.
When George McCord, a trainer,
reached the door of the cage, armed
with a pitchfork he had picked up, he
found it locked against him. Bess,
the old honess, her hide striped with
blood and her jaws agape, stood be-
side the bleeding form of Dietrich, try
Ing to fend off the determined attack
OF the blood-mad beasts. She was
sorely beset and fast losing strength
Dietrich was lying on his side. hud-
died up to ward off as long as posi-
bic the impending fate
McCord tried to reach the lions
with the tines of the pitchfork, but it
tel short by two feet. Then Bess was
hurled into the corner of the cage,
whimpering and bleeding from a score
OF wounds, and Dietrich lay helpless
ON the floor.
fangs and claws slashed his body !
land nuzzles were stained crimson as
che Pack fought about the PROSTATE
man.
McCord ran from the car into the |
street. shouting for help. His cries |
brought Clark street car to stop,
and several men ventured to the door
of the car.
The Lions Loose!" Is Cry.
As they approached, small yellow
form jumped through the door, and |
there was a hasty scurrying for shell
Ter, and cry:
The lions loosei"
Instead, il was the cub which had |
been released by Dietrich. 1t was cas-,
ely captured by McCord.
In the meantime two wagon loads Of
policemen and the fire department ap-
Daratus had arrived on the scene.
An effort was made to get the body,
nut the lions refused TO back away.
blows on the shouts from short sticks
sand clubs only brought angry snarls
sand blows at the bars with paws.
FINALLY McMord reached the belt
around Dietrich's waist and a rope
was tied to this. The body was lifted
80 the top of the cage and held there
while the men kept the lions away
with iron rods.
The lions were subdued by the
fumes of formaldehyde. The body
torn beyond recognition-was taken
from the cage.