Zoological/Circus History

Obituary from the Commercial Appeal, March, 23, 1913:

"OLD DWYER" DEAD. FORMER KING OF JUNGLE SUCCUMBS TO OLD AGE AT ZOO.

"Old Dwyer," the handsome African lion, which had been one of the chief attractions of the Memphis Zoo for the past seven years, died yesterday afternoon.

Dwyer was given to the Memphis Zoo by Barnum & Bailey's Circus. His back had been broken 14 inches below the base of the skull, between the fifth and sixth dorsal vertebrae, and the circus people knew that he would die if they attempted to carry him any further. E. K. Reitmeyer, who was then in charge, asked that the lion be given him for the Memphis Zoo. After a long and hard fight the lion was restored to health, and he and Mr. Reitmeyer became fast friends.

Dwyer had lived longer in captivity than the average life of a free lion. He was one of the first African lions captured for Carl Hagenbeck, the famous collector of wild beasts, who died recently in Hambur, Germany, from a snake bite. At the time Dwyer came into the possession of the Barnum & Bailey Circus he was full grown. He was exhibited by that circus for more than twenty years before the railroad wreck occurred in which his back was broken.

He had been a favorite with the Memphis children and with the Zoo attendants and since the death of "Natch," the pet bear, he had enjoyed more petting than any other inmate of the zoo.

He was of the African, black-maned branch of the family of felis leo, according to Henry W. Lewis, the new manager of the zoo.

The head carpenter of the park worked until a late hour last night to build a coffin for "Old Dwyer." The remains will be buried in the park today.

It is rumored that a promise has been made of the gift of another lion to take Dwyer's place, but Mr. Lewis is not yet ready to give out the name of the donor.