WOMAN MAULED BY LION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 5 October 1936, Page 14

WOMAN MAULED BY LION

THOUGHT IT WAS ASLEEP LONDON, Aug. 21. Hundreds of holiday makers watching the animals at a side-show on the front here to-day were alarmed by the screams of a woman and the roars of a. lion just before a wild animal per for ma nee was due to begin. Mrs. Edith West, of Pa Helle Alliance square, Rainsgate, was found in a. state of collapse, bleeding from a number ol wounds on her right arm and hand. An eye-witness said last night, that Mrs. West attempted to stroke a lion which was about to enter the show ring. "Mrs. West apparently thought that the lion was asleep and advanced to stroke his bead, which was close to the bars of the cage. The lion snarled and struck at her arm with a paw. inflicting deep wounds. She fell hack screaming. The lion beeamo enraged and struck repeatedly at the bars of its cage." The animal is a. performer in a "liontaming act." and it. was with great, difficulty that lie was persuaded to go through with his usual performance. Mrs. West was taken to Rainsgate Hospital by ambulance, but was allowed to go home after her wounds had been dressed.