CIRCUS ENTERTAINER KNOWN IN WANGANUI KILLED BY A LION
Mrs. Kay Schaeffer, known professionally as Madame Kovar, who appeared in a daring act with five lions when Wirths Circus appeared in Wanganui in the early part of this year, was killed by a lion in the presence of her three children in Los Angeles on Wednesday. A big African lion leaped at Mrs. Schaeffer’s throat as her son, Michael, 18, opened its cage at a training farm in Los Angeles. The lion then turned on Michael when he tried to run for help. His screams attracted a nearby elephant trainer who beat the lion senseless with an iron pipe. Mrs. Schaeffer died almost instantly. Michael was unhurt. Two other children aged 14 and four witnessed their mother’s death. Mrs. Schaeffer was seriously injured when a lioness mauled her at Penrith, New South Wales, in March, 1947. On that occasion she had just begun the evening performance at a circus when the lioness attacked her. Her husband and attendants drove off the lioness with whips. Madame Kovar spent six weeks in hospital.
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Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 4
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181CIRCUS ENTERTAINER KNOWN IN WANGANUI KILLED BY A LION Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 4
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