LION TAMER KILLED

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1932, Page 6

LION TAMER KILLED

WHEN SAVING DAUGHTER. LONDON. April 15. When Captain Purchase and his daughter were about to perform with two lions in a cage at the Afanelieste*. Fair Ground, Purchase, suspecting that the younger animal, Nero, intended to attack, extended his artificial leg to protect his daughter. To the horror of the spectators. Nero tore off the tamer’s leg and attacked him. The girl escaped from the cage. Richard Ohipperfield. a son of the proprietor, entered the cage and dragged

•iiini'd with poles, kept the lion at hay. Captain Purchase was taken to hospital sidfiring from severe injuries which ultimately proved fatal.

Cliipperfield and the girl performed with the docile lion two hours later. According to evidence given at the iiKpiest . Nero resembled a trust 1 , d servant•

Purchase had o'ten stroked it. Siadi an attack iniclit m*t. recur in a tluuiS'liid years. I,ions sometimes like human beinos, am] n ease is recorded of lour tamo lions killing a strange lion which at-!a>'t.-e(| a trainin'. Purchase's dauii'htei', Rose, said that she still danced before the caii'ed lions. The precautions taken fir her safety included the presem e e|' Chipperfield. nnol |»>r lion t amer, with sticks and liars to keep (lie heasts at Imv. and the prohibition of siiiokinm and drinkino l>y l erformers. f’nreliase had mined \ero and another lion. Ne>"o had now heen snl ( | lo a privalo zoo. conditionally on nobody entorine' his cairo. The Coroner. in record inn a lindinu; ol accidental death. agreed that the lO'e -authuis taken were •-11fli< ien(. Me eomplitneiiti' , d ('hipperlield on his hravo rescue of Purchase.