Washington telegraph., 1849-09-12
THE LION FIGHT,
OR THE SNOWMAN FAIRLY oUTwITTED.

| The Menagerie was in town.
A rare occurrence was an exhibition OF
the wild beasts, lions, tigers, polar bears,
and ichneumons, in Baltimore, at the ear.
ly day of which we are writing-yet they
came occasionally; and this time were
visited by old Nat Wheatly. jolly, wealth
erbeaten boatman, well known in Balti-
more as an inveterate joker, who never
let any one get to the windward of him.
He was, furthermore a Stzttte1er of the
first clas.
Nat visited the menagerie.
As he entered, the Snowman was stir
ring up the monkeys and tormenting the
lions, giving elaborate descriptions of
the various propensities and natural Pc
culiarities of each and ALL
This, ladies and gentlemen-this, [
say, is the African lion. A noble beast
he is, ladies and gentlemen, and is called
the king of the forest. have heard that
he makes nothing of devouring young
creatures, of every descrip ton when at
home in the woods. Certain it is that
no other beast can whip him"
"M-m-mister, interrupted Wheatly,
''d-do y-you say he ca can't be whipped!'
81 duz," said the man of lions and IT,
gers.
"What-atl you bet l c-can't fetch
c-c-critter what'll whip him?'
Il amt bettin' man, at all. don't
object 10 take small bet to that effect"
"IIl b-b-bet LII ca-can f-f-fetch some-
thing tEat'l wwwhip him. W-w-what
say you to hundred dollars"
Now there were several merchants in
the crowd who knew Wheatly well, and
were fully convinced that if the bet was
made he was sure of winning. So he
had no difficulty i'll finding hackers, one
of whom told him he would give him ten
gallons of rum if he won.
The menagerie man glanced at his lion.
There he crouched in his cage, his shag-
gy name brlstling, and his tail sweeping,
the very picture of grandeur and majesty.
The bribe was tempting and he felt as
sured.
"Certing, sir, have no objection to old
Hercules taking bout with any creature
you may fetch
"V-v-very w-well," said Nat. ats
bet"
The money was planked up, and the
next night was designated for the terrible
conflict. The news was spread over
Baltimore, and at an early hour the boxes
of the spacious theatre were tilled-the
pit being cleared for the affray.
| Expectation was on tip-toe, and 1t was
with impatience the crowd awaited the
arrival of Wheatly. He at length enter
ed, bearing large bag or sack upon his
shoulders, which as he let it fall upon
the floor, was observed to contain some
remarkable hard and heavy substance.-
The keeper looked at it with indignation.
"Th-th-there," said Nat, pointing with
his finger at the bag.
swell, what is it!' asked the man,
with increasing astonishment.
sTh- th-that, l-ladies and gentlemen,
said Nat, gesticulating like Snowman,
sis whimbamper.'
GA whimbamper" echoed the keeper,
chats certainly new feature in zoology
and anatomy. A whimbamper. Well,
let him out and clear the ring, or old Her
cules may make a mouthful Of both OF
| you
| The keeper was excited.
Accordingly, Nat raised the bag, hold
ing the aperture downwards,. and rolled
out huge swapping turtle, while the
| cheers and laughter OF the audience made
the arches ring.
"There he is!' said Wheaty, as he
tilted the whimbamper over with both
hands, and set him on his legs. The
| snapper seemed unconscious of his peril
| The keeper was about leaving the
room, when he swore that his lion should
not disgrace himself by fighting such a
contemplate foe.
"V-very WE'LL" said Nat; eff y-y-you
ch-choose to give me the hu-n-dred-"
"But, it's unfair."' cried the Snowman.
The audience interposed and insisted
upon the fight. There was no escape,
and the Snowman reluctantly released the
lion, making himself secure on the top Of
the cage.
The majestic beast moved slowly round
the ring, snuffing and lashing, while every
| person held his breath III suspense. LII
ons are pryiDg beasts, and this one was
| not long in discovering the turtle, which
Law on the tloor huge and lnanmate
mass The lion soon brought his nose IN
close proximity to it, when the turtle not
thinking, popped out its head and rolled
its eyes while a sort OF Wheeze issued
from its savageous mouth. The hon
| jumped back, turned, ,and made spring at
the critter which was now fully prepared
for his reception. AS the hon landed on
him. the turtle fastened his terrlhc Jaws
upon the lions nostrils. rendering hlm
powerless tu do harm, yet with activity
of limb, he bounded around the clrcle'
growled, roared, and lashed himself. ouI
the snapper hung on, seeming to ENJOY
| the ride vastly