The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, GISBORNE, DECEMBER 10,1903. A TRAGIC DEATH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1069, 10 December 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, GISBORNE, DECEMBER 10,1903. A TRAGIC DEATH.

The shocking fate of Madam* Fisher, the lion-tamer, reported in our cablegrams to-day, can hardly be read of without a shudder. She had acquired great fame throughout the world as a fearless woman who commanded the savage animals at wili, A horrible death had been often prophesied as her fate but the prophesies were so often falsified in connection with her daring work that it was generally concluded that Madame Fisher had what is termed “ a charmed life.” It is a sad irony of fate that just as she was giving her thousandth exhibition the end was brought about, and the poor womau was torn to pieces in the presence of her children. ;Viewed in one aspect, it is wonderful that the savage beasts could he for so long kept in subjection. We boast of our civilisation, out there is no doubt an appetite—a depraved appetite for the sensational class of exhibition given by Madame Fisher, and the fact of her tragic end is rather likely to increase than lessen that appetite. It .is a pity that the authorities do not suppress all such exhibitions, but it has to be borne in mind that others have been torn to pieces in these useless exhibitions, and such tragedies have rather given zest to than caused -a diminution of entertainments of the class.