When was it published?

May 22, 1829 in Constitutional Whig

Foreign News May 22, 1829

Constitutional Whig

Q: What sub-type of article is it?

Animal Escape, Menagerie Incident

Q: What keywords are associated?

Lion Escape, Menagerie Attack, Keeper Mauled, Animal Shot

Richmond, Virginia

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What is this article about?

A lion escaped its cage in Van Dinter's menagerie during a stop at a post office, fatally attacking the keeper by tearing his skin from abdomen to scalp. The lion then mounted a saddled horse until shot dead by the post-office proprietor.

Clipping

OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

A terrible misfortune has happened here. The Menagerie, belonging to Van Dinter, was obliged on its passage through this place, to stop at the Post office. The keeper was occupied in cleansing the lion's cage. By some accident or other the iron grating was opened and the lion found himself at liberty. In an instant he attacked the keeper, and commencing at the abdomen, he tore the skin from his body, pulled it over the whole of his face towards the scalp, and then left the mangled and lacerated body lying prostrate. He next jumped on a saddled post horse, where he remained quiet, only keeping hold of the saddle with one of his fore paws. It need not be observed that the horse fell instantly to the ground. A postilion who happened to be close at hand took to his heels; but soldiers and peasants approached as near as their fears would permit them. However, no one dared to meddle with the lion. At that moment the proprietor of the Post-office appeared at the window and killed the beast by a single shot.

What sub-type of article is it?

Animal Escape Menagerie Incident

What keywords are associated?

Lion Escape Menagerie Attack Keeper Mauled Animal Shot

What entities or persons were involved?

Van Dinter

Foreign News Details

Key Persons

Van Dinter

Outcome

keeper mangled and lacerated, likely killed; lion shot dead by post-office proprietor.

Event Details

The Menagerie belonging to Van Dinter stopped at the Post office. While the keeper cleaned the lion's cage, the iron grating opened accidentally, freeing the lion. It attacked the keeper, tearing skin from abdomen over his face to scalp, leaving him prostrate. The lion then jumped on a saddled post horse, holding the saddle with one paw, causing the horse to fall. A postilion fled; soldiers and peasants approached but did not intervene. The post-office proprietor shot and killed the lion from a window.