LIONESSS ESCAPES FROM A MENAGERIE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 276, 18 November 1905, Page 13

LIONESSS ESCAPES FROM A MENAGE RIE.

MAN AND WOMAN SERIOUSLY INJURED. The abbey town of Selby was thrown into excitement on October Ist by a thrilling incident which occurred at a snow given by a travelling circus and menagerie. Chipperfield's French Menagerie, travelling from Leeds en route for Hull, arrived at Selby on Saturday morning, and the tent was erected at Micklegate in order that performances might be given in the evening. The last performance commenced at 10 o'clock, when there were about 200 townsfolk in the circus tent. One of the items of the performance was an act in which Mi~s Amyll Mercella entered the cage of a lioness. Norma Lowdtartno, the anl—iafs trainer, was opening the cage door in order that he and •Miss Marcella might enter, when the lioness suddenly bounded at the half open door. One of her paws struck the trainer's arm, causing a somewhat serious injury. Miss Marcella, who found herself right in the path of the infuriated animal, fared worse. The lioness came down heavily upon her. and the five outstretched claws of one foot made five tei-Tible wounds on the right arm. The- audience, panic stricken at the sight of the lioness in the arena, flew outside, and in a few seconds the building was cleared. Tbe trainer and keepers then tried j to recapture the animal. The men, about j half a dozen in number, made a circle I round her, and tried to lasso her with, ropes. The head keeper, Henry Wesley, of Coventry, getting close to the lioness in attempting to secure her, was fiercely attacked. She bounded at his bead, mauling him terribly. The scalp was literally torn off, and one of bis arms was badly wounded- A lassao was eventually fhrown over tbe animal's haad, but she still continued the struggle, roaring savagery the j while. After twenty minutae' -work, when the animal was half strangled, the men I were able to drag her back into the cage ! Wesley was taken to the Cottage Hospital, where his scalp was sewn up. He was on j Sunday progressing favourably. Miss Mar-1 celia is also in the hospital, and her arm | may have to be amputated. One of the | managers stated that they had always had trouble with the lioness, and her trainer had several times been attacked. ___ was tbe first oc-Mfaß, howfe, -_ winch _te Jm_— c —Ml no l at Mtpaa,..,