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Story
May 9, 1919
The Fayette Falcon
Somerville, Fayette County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
In Woodbury, N.J., circus lioness 'Lucy' killed keeper John Henry, escaped her cage, sparking town panic as people fled and hid; a posse of locals armed with guns and improvised weapons chased and shot the animal dead in the woods.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ENRAGED ANIMAL ESCAPES FROM CAGE, BUT IS LATER KILLED BY SHOTS.
ANIMAL KILLS ITS KEEPER
Posse of Men and Boys Armed With Guns, Pikes and Stones Pursue Beast Into Woods of New Jersey.
Woodbury, N. J. - Panic gripped Woodbury for an hour when a lioness on exhibit in a circus sideshow killed her keeper before a small crowd of spectators, escaped from her cage and bounded into a small clump of woods.
A posse of men and boys armed with guns, pikes and stones, pursued the animal and finally killed her with a fusillade of shots.
"The big show" was in progress before an audience several hundred men, women and children, when John Henry, keeper of the lioness, "Lucy," and her two cubs, entered the sideshow cage. Driving the lioness into another compartment, Henry carelessly swung shut the separating door and stopped to fondle the cubs. The enraged animal threw herself against the door, bursting it open, and with one leap closed her powerful jaws about Henry's neck, killing him instantly.
Attendants in the tent shouted for help and seizing iron bars, hooks and tent stakes, began to belabor the animal in an effort to compel her to release her grip on the dead man. Infuriated by the blows, the lioness threw herself against the outer door of the cage, which Henry had failed to lock, and burst her way to freedom.
Screams of persons who saw her escape excited the audience in the main tent and a panic followed. Men, women and children scrambled from the tent and ran across lots to the center of the town crying "a lion has escaped."
Terrified mothers ran through the streets seeking their children. Other women locked and barricaded their homes and sought refuge in cellars. Shopkeepers closed their doors and word was sent to the public school, about to close, not to release the children until the lioness had been killed.
In the meantime circus attendants, accompanied by men and boys of Woodbury, invaded the woods to which the lioness had fled, and after a thrilling chase cornered her and ended her life.
ANIMAL KILLS ITS KEEPER
Posse of Men and Boys Armed With Guns, Pikes and Stones Pursue Beast Into Woods of New Jersey.
Woodbury, N. J. - Panic gripped Woodbury for an hour when a lioness on exhibit in a circus sideshow killed her keeper before a small crowd of spectators, escaped from her cage and bounded into a small clump of woods.
A posse of men and boys armed with guns, pikes and stones, pursued the animal and finally killed her with a fusillade of shots.
"The big show" was in progress before an audience several hundred men, women and children, when John Henry, keeper of the lioness, "Lucy," and her two cubs, entered the sideshow cage. Driving the lioness into another compartment, Henry carelessly swung shut the separating door and stopped to fondle the cubs. The enraged animal threw herself against the door, bursting it open, and with one leap closed her powerful jaws about Henry's neck, killing him instantly.
Attendants in the tent shouted for help and seizing iron bars, hooks and tent stakes, began to belabor the animal in an effort to compel her to release her grip on the dead man. Infuriated by the blows, the lioness threw herself against the outer door of the cage, which Henry had failed to lock, and burst her way to freedom.
Screams of persons who saw her escape excited the audience in the main tent and a panic followed. Men, women and children scrambled from the tent and ran across lots to the center of the town crying "a lion has escaped."
Terrified mothers ran through the streets seeking their children. Other women locked and barricaded their homes and sought refuge in cellars. Shopkeepers closed their doors and word was sent to the public school, about to close, not to release the children until the lioness had been killed.
In the meantime circus attendants, accompanied by men and boys of Woodbury, invaded the woods to which the lioness had fled, and after a thrilling chase cornered her and ended her life.
What sub-type of article is it?
Extraordinary Event
Animal Story
Disaster
What themes does it cover?
Catastrophe
Misfortune
Bravery Heroism
What keywords are associated?
Lion Escape
Animal Attack
Keeper Killed
Circus Panic
Posse Pursuit
Woodbury New Jersey
What entities or persons were involved?
John Henry
Lucy
Where did it happen?
Woodbury, N. J.
Story Details
Key Persons
John Henry
Lucy
Location
Woodbury, N. J.
Story Details
A lioness named Lucy killed her keeper John Henry in a circus sideshow cage, escaped into nearby woods causing panic in Woodbury, and was pursued and killed by a posse of armed men and boys.