A Cinematograph "Martyr."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7858, 26 June 1905, Page 4

A Cinematograph "Martyr."

DEVOUHED BY REAL LIONS TN THE AKENA. In a tall, glass-roofed building just outside Prfris, high up on the top floor, where the light is good, a strange and interesting spectacle was witnessed a short time agoi The building belongs to the firm of Pa the Brothers 1 ,- and the floor had been converted into a very good imitation of an arena, where, for the benefit of the cinematograph operas tor, a "Christian'captive" was to be torn to pieces to make " a Koman holiday." In the corner of the arena an overturned chariot lay, while the cardboard horses which had drawn it beat the-air with their hoofs in an ineffectual effort to recover their equilibrium. A dead warrior lay near by, and helmets, swords, and other articles -which had figured in the deadly fray Were scattered over the ground. On thq Imperial Tribune, Uero.witii a silver- wreath encircling his brow, sat among his favourites. When the! operator was ready to begin, three I bare-headed and bare-legged slaves came on the siene, rolled away a chariott' wheel, and can-fad l ' otiti the dead Roman. Then Nero raised his hand, and immediately a procession of slaves and soldiers filed Into the arena.

The slaves were scantily attired, and wore scandals The soldiers were clad in chain armour, and-were equipped wth shields, leg»guaids. and helmets. In the centre '■ walked a noblelooking white "captive," and as the rearguard passed me I noticed a copy of the Matin sticking out of one of the soldier's pockets. When the procession had passed rfnee around the arena, it drew up in front of the Imperial Tribune, ana the slaves and the noble captive knelt before Xero, shouting, "Those that are about to die, salute thee."

Then two guards sprang forward, seized 'the captive, dragged him. resisting, to the stake in the centre of the arena, and securely bound him to it. The cinematograph stopped clicking. 'lTie captive was released and replaced by a dummy figure, to which was attached several pieces of meat freshly dipped in blood'.' Nco nodded once more, and .lulinno, a wclF-known .lion tamer, clad like a gladiator, entered the arena. He was quickly followed by four live lions which roamed about the place in search 'of a ( victiiii. Suddenly one of them sighted the "Christian" bound to the stake. With a growl th" beast rushed upon him and tore hint limk from limb. All this time tho cinematograph had been working off Us dims, and in a very c.hort spuce of time a realistic representation of the death of a Christian in the,awna bad lyeon secured. ;'