The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-06-23
VEHlIRANPER AND LION
FIGHT.

The mrnagcrie was in town! A rare
occurrences was the exhibition of wild
bca, ts-lions, monkeys, hyenas, tigers,
30 4 bears, and ichneumon, in Balti-
more. in the early days of which we
write vet they came occasionally, and
this time were visited by old Nat Wheat
lev. Jolly, weather beaten boatman,
well known in Baltimore as an inveter-
srs Joker. who never let any one get the
windward of him He was furthermore,
a sufferer of the first class.
Nat visited the menagerie. As he en-
tered, the Snowman was stirring up the
monkeys and tormenting the lion, Civ
inc elaborate descriptions of the various
propensities and natural pecuiarities of
eacn and all.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the At
Iiran lion A noble beast he is, ladies
aud gentlemen; is called the king of the
forest. | have often heard that he makes
nothing of devouring young creatures OF
every description when at home i'll the
woods. Certain it is that no other beast
can whip him"
"M.mi-mister," interrupted Wheatley,
ID do you say he c-c-can't be whipped
Il duz," said the man of lions and ii
gers.
what w-will you bet that II c-can't
fetch critter that'll whip him3'
II amt betting man at all but |
don't object to making small bet TO
that effect"
III bet that l can fetch something
that will whip him. What say you to a
h-hundred dollars
Now, there were i'll the crowd several
merchants who knew Wheatley well, and
were fully convinced that if the bet was
made he was sure Of winning, So that he
had 10 difficulty in finding hackers one
of whom told him that he would give
him ten gallons Of rum if he won. The
menagcrie nan glanced at slion. There
crouched in his cage, his shaggy name
b.istling, aud his tail sweeping, the pic
ture Of grandeur and majesty. The hrlbe
was tempting, and he felt assured
"Certing, sir, certing, / have no Ubjec-
ton to old Hercules taking bout with
eny cretur you can fetch"
VERY WE'LL" said Nat, its bet.
The money was planked up, and the
night was designated for tue terrible con
fict The news spread over Baltimore,
and at all early hour the boxes of the
spacious theatre were filed, the pit being
cleared for the fray
Expectation was on tip toe, and it was
with great Impotence that the crowd
waited the arrival of Wbearley He at
length entered bearing a bag oI sack Oh
his shoulder, which, as he laid it on the
floor, was observed TO contain some re-
markably hard and heavy substance
The keeper looked with indignation
l,, ;,,,-,;,.l
"Th-th-there said Nat pointing 10 the
bag with his frger.
"Well, what is it, asked the nau with
increased astOnshment.
"Th-th-that, ladies and gentlemen,
said Nat, gesGculating, like the Snowman,
is wh-wbimbamper.
"a whimbamper calculated the show
man. That is certainly new feature
in zoology and anatomy. \ whimham-
per- Well, let him ont AID clear the ring.
or old Hercules may make " mouthful Of
both of you.
The keeper was excited. Accordingly
Nat raised the bag, holding TIE aperture
down wards, and out rolled huge snap
ping turtle, while the cheers and laugh
ter of the audience made the archie, ring.
There he Is. as he tilted the "whim-
hamper" over with both hands and set
him on his legs The snapper seemed
unconscious Of his peril
Wheatley was about leaving tho ring,
y hen the keeper swore his lion should
never disgrace himself by fighting with
such piliable foc
Very Well" said Nat, III y-you give
30 me the hu hundred dollars i
But its unfair cried the Snowman
The audience interposel and insisted
uNon the fight There was In escape,
and he Snowman reluctantly released the
hon, making himself secure on the top
# the cage
The majestic beast moved SLOWLY round
he ring, shutting and ldshiug, while
every one held then breath in suspense
Lions are baaSr aud this one was not
long il discover.nq thc turtle which !ay
On the floor, large and animate mass
The lion soon brought his nose IN close
proximity to it, which he tulle not lk-
NJ popped out his head ana rolled his
eyes, while a sort of whcrzr issued
from his savage mouth IhrEon Jumped
ha.E, turned and made a spring on tho
5uu,le, which was now fully prepared ior
his reception. As the lion landed o..
nm, IN" turtle fastened ms terrific Jaws
IN his nostrils, rendering him powerlesa
tn du harm. VET with activity II limb he
bounded around the circle, growled,
roared and dashed himself but the snap-
per hung on seeming 70 enjoy the ride
vastly
ego it, whimbamper," cried Wheat.
ley from the boxes
The scene was rich The Snowman Mas
10 less enraged than the lion, and dtaw
ing pistol he threatened Nat that if
le did not call the turtle of he would
shoot him
"T-t-ake him of Yourself" shouted
Nat in reply
At this critical moment, bv dint at los
iaI a portion of his nose, the liou hal
t,s luck 10 shake his dangerous foe fro.,
ian, AID clearing the space between him
self and cage with a bound, he skunk
quietly IN. 10 chew the end of defeat in
pain.
II was fair fight, all declaring that
the "whimbamper" was the victor. The
next morning Nat carried his turtle to
market and sold him. So this valiant
champion, after conquering the king of
the forest, served to make a dinner for