Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-17
THE LION AND "wH1MBAMpER."

ichneumons in Baltimore, at the early day
Of which We were writing, yet they came 90.
c~asionally; and at this time they we're visit
cd BY old Nat Whealey, a jolly weather
beaten boatmau, we'll known in Baltimore as
an iuveterate joker, who never let any one
get to the windward of him.
AS Nat entered the Snowman was stirring
up the monkeys and tormeutiug the lions,
giving the elaborate descriptions of the va
rious p~ropersities and peculiarities of each
and all.
aThis ladies and gentlemen, this, I say,is
the African lion. "A noble beast, ladies and
gentlemen, aandis called the king Of the for
est. I have heard he makes nothing of de-
:zouring young creatures, of every descrip-
tionywheG at home in the woods. Certain it
is, that no other beast can whip him.
Mister said Wheatly, do you say he
can't be whipped?"
d dus,' said the man Of lions and tigers.
tWhat'n you bet I can't fetch a critter
what'l whip himT
Il ain't a bettin' man, at all; / don't OBJ
iect to take a small bet to that effect
"Ill bet I can fetch something thatll
whip him. What say you to a hundred dol
lars?"
Now there were several merchants in the
crowd who knew Wheatly, we'll and were
fully convinced that if the bet was made he
was sure of winning So he had no difficult
tyins finding hackers, one Of whom told him
h 9 would give him ten gallons Of rum If he
won.
The menagerie man glanced at his lion
There he crouched in his cage, his shaggy
name bristling and his tail sweeping, the
very picture Of grandeur and majesty. The
bride was tempting and he felt assured.
"Certainly, sir ; I have no objection to old
Hercules taking bout with any you may
fetch
very WE'LL said Nat, it's a 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 we're flled-the pit being cleared for
the ARRAY, expectation was on tip toe, and
it was with impotence the crowd awaited the
arrival Of Wheatly. He at length entered,
bearing a large bag or sack upon his should.
ers, which, as he let it fall upon the floor,
was observed to contain some remarkably
hard substance. The keeper looked ut it
with indignation.
There said Nat pointing with his fin
ger at the bag.
We'll, what is it?' asked the man with
increasing astouishuent.
That, ladies and gentlemen said Nat
gesticulating like ashowman, sis a whimbam
PERI
a whimbamper?' echoed the keeper
ttnat's certainly a new feature in zoology ano
anatomy. A whimbamper! Well let hin
make a moutbful of both of you
The keeper was excited. Accordingly
Nat raised the bag, holding the apertur'
downwards, and rolled out a huge sDappiu.
turtle, while the cheers and laughter Of thu
audience made the arches RUG.
There he is! said Wheatly, as he lifted
the ~whimbamper over his hands and set hin
on his legs. The snapper seemed uncon
scious of its peril. The keeper was abou
leaving the room when he swore his lior
should not disgrace himself by fighting such
q contemplate foe.
Very WE'LL said Nat, 'if you choose tt
give the hundred
But it's unfair cried the Snowman.
The audience interposed andinsisted upor
the fight. There was no escape, and thu
Snowman reluctantly released the lion, ane
making himself secure OF the top of tn
cage.
The majestic beast moved slowly aroune
the ring, shutting and lasbiug, while ever.
person held his breath in suspense. Lion
are prying beasts, and this one was not long
in discovering the truth, which lay on tn
floor q huge and inaninate mass. The liol
soon brought his nose in close proximity II
it, when the turtle not thinking popped on
his head and rolled its eyes, while a sort o
wheezc issued from its savagerous mouth
The lion jumped back made a spring at tn,
%critter, which was DOW fully prepared for it
reception. As the lion landed on him, tn,
turtle fastened its terridc jaws upon the lion
nostril's, rendering him powerless to do harm
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