LION WORRYING A TAMER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 212, 7 September 1891, Page 3

LION WORRYING A TAMER.

EXCITING SCENE IN A MENAGERIE

At South Devon and Bast Cornwall Hospital, Plymouth, a few days ago, an inquest was held relative to the death of Thomas Bridgman, otherwise known as Captain Cardono, the lion tamer, which occurred in the institution aa a result, it was alleged, ot injuries from a lion daring a performance in Boßtook's menagerie at Gunnisl&ke Robert Thomas B. Bridgman, of 8, Olive Terrace, Crawford-street. Bamberwell, brother ol the deceased, said bis brother was known as Captain Oardono, and was by profession b HoDctamer. He had bean with Meiers Bostook since he was a boy. He was 44 years of age. William Henry Bunse, keeper, in the employment ol Meesis Boßtook, said that in the afternoon, between four and five o'clock, deoeased was performing with lions in a cage in the menagerie at Gunnislake. He made the lions jump over a bar, run round the cage, and jump over his legs. After he had compelled the lions to walk zound he was trying to get a young lion into a corner when be tamed his baok on a larger one named Wallaoe, which struck him on the baok with its paws, knooked him down, and bit him. A man named Reid and witness at once attacked the lion with picks and soraperß, and Oardono got on his feet, made the lions run twice round the cage, and then left it, walking to his own dressing place. By the jury: It was customary to have hot irons ready when the beaßts were at all savage, but they were not so on the occasion in question, Deoeased bad been fifteen or sinteen years performing" with lionß, and had had slight soratohes from the same animal before, but they were scarcely worth mentioning. The animal was still in the show, bat waß now in a separate cage. Sidney Braham, manager for Messrs Bostook, said the deoeased had performed with lions for the last eight years, and had to bis knowledge only received a eoratoh oa one oooasion about ten months ago at Newcastle He had suffered greatly from pneumonia. By the jury : The proprietors did not intend to allow the same lion to be exhibited along with others again. Alexander W. F. Bayers, assistant house surgeon at the hospital, said the deoeased was admitted to the iastitution a few days ago. He had wounds on the left armpit and shoulder and scratches elsewhere. He was suffering from aoute bronchitis, from whioh he died that morning 1 . Death was accelarated by the injuries he had reoeived. By the jury : lie would probably have died from the bronchitis without the wounds. The coroner, in summing up, said he had seen the entertainment at the menagerie, and he saw nothing iv it either brave or interesting, It was nothing but foolhardiness, and if they oonld take any Btepa whioh would tend to prevent ft recurrence of Buoh an event it would be an excellent thing. There were several other performances whioh suited the morbid tastes of the moßt depraved classes amongst the British pnblio, but they could not take any steps with regard to them unless they were before them. There was nothing to recommend such performances to any taßte. Some people might possibly be attracted by the hope of seeing a man injured, bnt there was nothing to reoommend them to an enlightened man, and if the jury gave a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony as to the oause of death, and added a rider suggesting that some means should be taken to prevent suoh unsightly performances, they might do a great deal of good. The jury adopted the coroner's suggestion, adding a , rider to the following effeot :-" That in the opinion of this jury, etepß should be taken to prevent the dangerous practice of persons entering the oages of lions and other wild animals except when absolutely necessary."