A TIGER-TAMER TORN TO PIECES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2416, 14 December 1880, Page 3

A TIGER-TAMER TORN TO PIECES.

Mr G, A. Courtney, proprietor and manager of the Zoological Circus bearing his name, wrote from San Domingo, W, 1., Sept. 16, as under: —“ Last night afc 10 o’clook the well known lion-tamer Herr Elijah Lengel, of Philadelphia Pa. entered the den of Brazilian tigers attached to this circus, and had nearly concluded his performance with them when he made a false step, and one of the tigers caught him by the head and neck, and in less {than five seconds he was torn to pieces. His jugular-vein was cut, his car on the right completely eaten off, and his body was a mass of mangled flesh and bones. The tent was densely packed with people, and the scene that followed it is impossible to describe. The guard and also a few private individuals commenced firing with revolvers and rifles at the tiger, and soon killed it, thereby enabling the attaches fo drag the body of Lengel through the compartment. The remaining living tiger at once fell upon the dead animal in presence of the audience and tore it into fragments. No pen can describe the horror of this scone. Mr Lengcl’s remains were buried to-day (16) at lo;clock. and were followed to tjic grave by the whole company and a large concourse of citizens, who manifested their deep sympathy at this terrible misfortune,”