THRILLNG SCENE IN A MENAGERIE.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 624, 11 January 1872, Page 3

THRILLNG SCENE IN A MENAGERIE.

At Emly, Ireland, a short time ago, there ■was a performance ofatravelling menagerie owned by aMr "W hittington. A little boy, son of a publican named Fleming, residing in the village, was playing round the cage where some bears were kept. The child having incautiously thrust his hand through the bars of the cage, one of the bears seized it and lacerated it in a frightful manner. The arm, from the elbow, had to be amputated, and the doctor gare no hope of the child's recovery. The boy's father, on hearing of the occurrence, procured a gun, and, proceeding to the menagerie, shot a fine bear dead, and caused another to escape. The villagers collected, and becoming enraged, attacked the boxes and caravans of the menagerie, smashing a number of them to pieces. On Friday seven were brought to Tipperary in custody, charged with riot and assaulting the proprietor of the menagerie. A correspondent of the Dublin Express says that on the accident to the child becoming known the people collected, in large numbers with stones, empty bottles, and sticks, and smashed several of the boxes in which the beasts were kept. They then commenced to attack the proprietor, beat him, and blackened his face and eyes. The seven men arrested have been taken before the magistrates and remanded.