Fearful Accident in a Menagerie.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 48, 12 October 1870, Page 5

Fearful Accident in a Menagerie.

The frequenters of music halls and other places of entertainment, where the attractions are heightened hy performances on the tight-rope or flying trapeze, which give every visitor the chance of witnessing a fatal accident, would hj ive envied the iuhahitants of Middletown, in Missouri, had they known the thrilling scone which occurred there on the morning of the 12th of May. The Mid'llefon Banner of the 13th says : “The little village was thrown into a feirfal fever of excitement on that day hy an awful catastrophe which occurred to the hand lately attached to James Robinson an 1 Co.’s Circus and Animal Shwo, and led by Professor M. C. Sexton. The management had determined to produce something novel iu the way of a band chariot, and conceived the idea of mounting the band upon the colossal deu of performing Nuinidian Lions. Although repeatedly warned by Professor Sexton that he deemed the cage insecure and dangerous in the extreme, the managers still compelled the band to sit upon it. As the driver endeavored to take a turn in tho streets, on the morning of the accident, the leaders became entangled, and threw the I entire team into confusion, and ended by i starting off at a gallop. The fore-wheel of the cage came in contact with a large rock ; with such force as to cause tho hr.,clogs j and st mchions which supported the roof to j give way, thereby precipitating the band ! into the awful pit below, For an instant i tho crowd were paralysed with fear, but for j a moment only, and then arose such a | shriek of agony as was never heard before. ; The groans of terror from the poor victims i who ware being torn to pieces by the lions I below were heartrending and sickening to j the last degree. Some few of the bands--1 men managed to climb over the sides of | tho cage, and then fell sou-eless to tho j ground, while the others were scenestniggling with the wild blasts in a mass of

hideous confusion. A hardware stove which happened to stand opposite was invaded, and pitchforks, crowbars, and long bars of iron—in fact every available weapon—was brought into requisition. The side doors of the cage were quickly torn from their fastenings, and then a horrible sight was presented to view. Mingled with the brilliant uniform of the poor unfortunates lay legs and arms torn from their sockets and half devoured, while the savage brutes glared ferociously with their sickly green-coloured eyes upon the crowd. At this moment Professor Charles White arrived and gave orders with regard to extricating the dead and wounded. Stationing men with forks and bars at every available point, ho sprang fearlessly into the den and commenced raising the wounded, whom he passed to the people outside. He had removed the last wounded man, and was proceeding to gather up the remains of the lifeless, when the “Mammoth lion’,’ known by the name of Old Nero, sprang, with a frightful roar, upon him, fastening his teeth and claws in his neck and shoulders and lacerating him in a horrible manner. Professor White made three attempts to shake the monster off, but without avail, and then gave orders to fire upon him. The contents of four of Colt’s navys were immediately poured into tlm carcase of the lion, who fell dead with a savage howl, and the brave little nun, notwithstanding the fearful manner in which ho was wounded, never left the cage till every vestige of the dead was carefully gathered together and placed noon a sheet. It was found that throe of the ten bandsmen were killed outright, and four others terribly lacerated. The names of the killed are August Schncr, Conrad FVeeiz. and Charles (Tremor. Coffins wm-e procured, and an immediate burial was determined upon, as th« bodies were so to"n as to ')■-> to their most intimate friends.”