MAULED BY LIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22284, 9 June 1934, Page 12

MAULED BY LIONS

MAN LOSES HIS LIFE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AT ZOO (United Press Association.) (•By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June 8. (Received June 8, at 8 p.m.) When a friend's hat blew into the lion's cage at the Whipsnade Zoo, Stanley Stenson, a van driver employed by the zoo, climbed the barrier, crawled along the interior railings, and attempted to reach the hat. Four lions sprang up and seized his arm. Several men tried to free him, but the lions were infuriated by the blood and maintained their grip. One wrenched Stenson from the hands of the rescuers. He fell head first 17 feet to the concrete floor of. the pit, and the lions began mauling him. Keepers rushed to the scene and kept two of the lions at bay with poles, but were compelled to fire revolvers before the others were driven off.

A knot of spectators, among whom were fainting and screaming women, watched horrified as the keepers compelled the snarling beasts to retreat. Stenson's body was removed for an inquest. The doctor who was called is uncertain whether death was due to a fractured skull or whether the lions finally killed Stenson.