115 Years Ago, 1910 Transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“An enraged lion kills local man. Alfred M. Clark attacked by beast at close of a carnival performance in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and dies in hospital Thursday. Horrified spectators witness unequal fight between ‘Sultan’ King of the Jungle and his trainer during street fair. Victim badly mangled. Is dragged from the cage while keepers beat off the infuriated and bloodthirsty beast.”

“Special to the Vindicator. Martinsburg, W. Va., Nov 11 – Attacked in a narrow steel cage by a bloodthirsty and ferocious lion with which he was giving an exhibition, Alfred M. Clark, aged 22, of Youngstown, Ohio, an animal trainer in Ferari Bros’ King Edward Wild Animal show was fatally injured while giving a public performance here Wednesday night. Terribly clawed and mangled by the wild brute, Clark was rushed to the Martinsburg hospital where he died at 2:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon. The victim’s frightful experience and a subsequent rumor that the lion had broken loose following his attack on Clark, threw the large audience that was in attendance into a panic. Terror stricken people trod each other under foot in a wild effort to escape from the tent.

“Sultan, the lion responsible for Clark’s death, is an especially ferocious brute. He holds the gruesome record of having killed five other trainers besides Clark. Two years ago while the show was in Harrisburg, Pa., the lion nearly killed Clark.

“As a result of the injuries inflicted at that time Clark spent several months in the hospital. The owners of the show wanted to kill the beast but Clark objected. He declared that he would tame Sultan or die in the attempt. Despite the lion’s bad reputation his trainer displayed no fear of him. At every performance Clark exhibited with two tigers, two lions, one of them was Sultan, and two jaguars….

“Thursday afternoon at the end of his part in the exhibition Clark had prepared to leave the cage in which Sultan was confined. The great beast was sulking in a corner of his prison snarling and acting in an ugly manner. The trainer paid little attention to the beast, but walked to the rear exit of the cage. When his back was turned the lion leaped upon him sinking his sharp claws in Clark’s shoulder….

“While the confusion was greatest, trainer Tony Bortino kept his head. He rushed to the aid of his fellow trainer. Snatching up a club he drove the lion from his prey…. Clark, more dead than alive, was dragged from the cage and hurried to the hospital as stated.

“Upon his request his mother, Mrs. Cornelia Brown of 12 North Hazel Street, Youngstown, was notified of the accident. When Clark was admitted to the hospital it was thought that he might live for some time. Traumatic pneumonia developed, however, from the blow which the lion had struck the victim on the chest, resulting in his death at the hour stated…

“Alfred M. Clark was born and reared in Youngstown. He was a son of Mrs. Cornelia Brown. He had been with the Ferari show about three years. In this company he had traveled all over the United States and Canada….

“During his boyhood the deceased played with the youngsters about the old market house lot. A favorite past time of the lads was amateur circus performances in which all the boys took part…. Even then he seemed to have a strange liking for animals which probably influenced him to take up the hazardous business which cost him his life.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society