Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1848-01-08
Van Amburg and Dressbaoh T,
THE LION TANNERS,

nc EIPh. llOD tuneIs OI UlOueIu uu1e-, uIe
both, believe, living. Although they are the
only persons who have achieved eminence in
their professon-the mastery of wild hea-ts-it
is singular coincidence in their history, that
they are both Of Dutch oriein--oue by descent,
the other by brih-and that the State Of New
York, the natal place Of one, was also the reel.
deDce Of the other, at the commencement Of
his professional course.
Van Amburg was born in 1912. at Fisbkill,
New York State, thirty miles from the city of
that name, from one Of the original Dutch set
tiers Of the State. At the age Of fifteen, with
fine constitution and great good temper, he
left his native home for New York, where he
resided several years. as clerk in the house OF a
relative Van Amburg was. howe,er, not cal.
culsted for the drudgery Of the business pursuits
of that city, and found more coneenia employ
mcnt, after setting ou on his rambles, in com.
pany which was engaged in taking a caravan
Of wild beasts through the principal cities Of the
United States. He had now become twenty
years of age, with fine figure, iron franc, end
herculesn strength, which admirably suited
this dcvelopement Of his peculiar faculties. He
is siuguiarly made, and one Of the most athletic
Of his size in the world. Ills body is nearly
round, hut greater in thickness than in breadth;
his homes large and firmly set. and his flesh al.
most mucle. Nevertheless, for his singular con.
formation, he is remarkable for the lightness
and grace of his movements. .s ...a
HIS first intercourse with lions, &C., was
pareiy accidental. Al Jersey City, opposite
New York, a caravan of live animals wac ex.
hb,ed. The lion was uncommonly good tenn
! pcred, and as a part Of the exhibition, one OF
| the keepers was in the habit of entering his
cage. On one occasion. this individual was
absent. the audience impatient, no one to enter
the cage. and regular row in perspective. In
this extremity Of distress, Van Amburg mad
compassion. while he felt his latent energie,
reused to action. "l'll go into the cage said
he to the manager. He took q cane, entered
the cage, walked up to tho lion, talked to him,
snd in few seconds they became quite init.
mate. "ln approaching wild animals.' says
Van Amburg. 'coursge is every thing" geo
| This was but the commencement Of his
course. The lion died, end tho company dis
persed. He joined caravan, the Geological
Institute, in New York, which comprehended
the rarest specimens and fullest assortment o
wild beasts ob,ainable at that date. Here he
prosecuted his favorte pursuits, studied the
temper and proceeded in their civilization, steE
by step until they were all perfectly subjected
to his orders
He first associated in one cage lion and
tiger This presented remarkable scenes.-
These two animais would fight whole months
and sometimes he would give over one of then
tor dead. On such occasions, Van Ambure
after they had exhausted each other, would er
: ter the cage and begin his course Of disciplin
, to control both.-Graduslly he added animal |
animal, till he got as many as ten animals in on
c,ee. On many occasions, he had severe COZ
. dicts, with the tiger particularly. but no,hin
: dangerous. When he talks OF these animal
+ he is highly interesting. The tiger. says Va
}. Amburg, 10 like a reckless, good.for no,hn,
g drunken rascal, who spends his time careless
!. at tsverns, and fights at moment. Tigers q
l. have bad. spiteful tempers. The lion is not
B. rascible; he is slower and cooler, but the
l. are not the generous feelings about him whie
= he has been cracked up for. The leopards a
Is like cats--playfu, but easily Provoked.-The
y is nothing hardly more interesting than to he
this history of his intercourse with these snim'
from HE own lips.
:, Van Amburg has novel and practical the
y ~ TO account for his power over them. Fro
y the first moment Of his intercourse with them
" talked with them as he would to human
ing. They believe says he that have pc
er to tear every one Of them 10 pieces, If a
do not act ss say. tell them 20, and h
frequently enforced il with a crowbar. 7
personal strength, the peculiar cast Of his e
the rspidity Of his movements, the tone OF
q, voice, all tend to present 70 these animals
NJ. idea Of superior power, which in sndden bu
ho Of pa ssion makes them crouch in one corne
.e. the cage. Van Amburg's eyes are peculiar,
A.. Of them has a remarkable cast, which re,
AN brigh,ens the effect Of his expressive face.
I'm. one OCCASION, in New York, the tiger bees
ferocious. Van Amburg very coolly took
crowbsr, ard gave him tremendous blow Q
No. the head. lie then said to him In good Eng
, of az II he wss human creature, You big scs
the drsl, il you show me any more Of your prs
INTO III knock your brains out ? accompanying
ion, with loud menaces and strong Ressicu'ar Q
Two Ahsr this the tiger behaved Ikea r.d
Of Tor . couple Of months.