Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-05-26
Van Amburgh and Drieshacil.

Van Amburgh and Drieshach.
Tho visit Of Raymond & Warnings ex
lensive caravan OF wild beast to our city
renders some notice of the great lion
tanners OF modern times seasonable and ap
fpropiate. IA
Of.hese there are two Van Am5nrgh
and Herr Driesbaeh. They are both,
believe living Although they are the
only persons who have achieved emipence
| in their professon-the mastery of wild
beasts-it is q singular coincidence in their
history, that they are both of Dutch origin,
oae by descent, the other by birth, and that
the Stale of New York, the native place OF
the one, was also the residence Of the other,
at The commencement of his professional
course:
Van Anburgh was born in 1919, a. FASH
kill, New York State,thir,y miles from the
city Of that name. He is descended, as
may be indicated by his name, from one
Of the original Dutch settlers Of that state.
At the age Of fifteen, with fine constitu.
lion, and great good temper, he left his
native home for New York, where he re-
sided several years, as cfork IN the house
efaselaiive VanAmburgh was, however,
moi calculated for the drudgery of the bus
mess pursuits of that city, and found more
|congenial employment after setting out on
his rambles, in company which was en-
gagged in taking caravan Of wild beasts
through the principal cities of the United
States He had now bece me twenty years
ofage, with fine figure, iron frame
and herculean strength, which admirably
suited this development Of his peculiar fac.
ulties. He is singulary made, and one Of
the most athletic of his size in the world.
His body is nearly round, but greater in
thickness than in breadth. His bones
large and firmly SET, and bis flesh almost
muscle. Nevertheless. from his singular
conformation, he is remarkable for the
.ligh,ness and grace of his movements
His FIRST intercourse with lions, &C.,
was purely by Incident. At Jersey City,
opposite New. York, a caravan Of live
animals was exhibited. The lion was un-
commonly good tempered, and as 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 10 enter the
cage, and regular row in perspective.
In this extremity of distress, VanAmburgh
had compassion. while he felt MS latent.
energies reused to action. "I'll 60 into
the cage" said he TO the manager. He
took cane, entered the cage, walked up
tn 10 1io,, fn1 Lod to hip, p5 in, fo,
seconds they became quite intimate. "ln
approaching wild animals,' says Van
Amburgh, courage is everything"
This was but the commencement of his
course. The lion died, and the company
dispersed. He joined caravan called the
Geological Institute, in New York, which
comprehended the rarest specimens and
fullest assortment Of wild beast obtaina-
BILE at this date. Here he prosecuted his
favoriie pursuit, studied the temper and
habits Of the various animals, and pro-
ceeded in their civilization, step by step,
until they were oil perfectly subject to his
orders. u as A. .s..- l..
He first associated in one cage lion and
tiger. This presented remarkable scenes.
These two animals would fight whole
months and sometimes he would give over
one Of them for dead. On such occasions,
Van. Amburgh, after they had exhausted
each other, would enter the cage and begin
his course of discipline to control bolh.-
Gradually he added animal to animal, till
he got as far as ten animals in one cage
On several occasions, he had severe COM
flic.s, with the tiger particularly, but moth.
ing dangerous. When be talks Of these
animals, he is highly Interesting. The
tiger, says Van A mburgh, is like a reckless,
good nothing, drunken rascal. who
spends his time carelessly at .averns, and
nights at q moment. Tigers all have bad,
sPlieiul tempers.. The Lion is not so ir-
asclble; he is slower and cooler, but there
are not the generous feelings about him
which he has been cracked up for. The
leopards are like cats-playful, but easily
provoked. There is nothing hardly more
interesting than to hear this history Of his
intercourse with these animals from his
own lips. .issss g.
Van Amburgh has a novel and practical
theory to account fer his power over them