The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-07-18

History Of Batty, the Lion-Tamer.---Reeent
Scene In the Imperial Cireus at Paris.---Thril-
ing account Of haud-tO-hand fight between Bat
ty aud bis Lieus.
Batty is now thirty years of age. He is
an American by birth, but early left the Uni
| ted States to enter the service of his uncle
who tor long time was the principal mana
| ger OF Astley's Amphitheatre at London
From his earliest years he had strange af-
fiction for wild animals. He would enter
their cages without fear and his influence
over them was such that the boldest could
not Withstand it. They seemed fascinated
by the powerful glance of his piercing eyes.
His father was frightened at the peculiar and
dangerous proclivities of his son, and did his
best to restrain him, but without effect
Threats and blows werea like unavailiny. and
at length Batty fled to Africa to avoid the
harsh treatment to which he was exposed
There for years, he led wild and solitary
life, and wandered from forest to forest. and
from one savage tribe to another. His deeds
of intrepidity were incredible in their audac-
ity and the rude sympathies of his restless
and untamed nature found abundant graft
tication. Among the wild beasts of Africa
with regret. Some two or three wears ago
he made his appearance in Paris, that great
caravanserai of the world and he and his
lions were received with unbounded ap-
plause. His muscular development is Won
deriul, and in strength and agility he almost
equals the monsters with which so much of
his life has been spent. He can run like
lawn, and leap like leopard and often it
has been his fortune to struggle for his life,
as he has just DONE face to face and shoulder
to shoulder, and often has he gained the vic
tory by sheer force of muscle.
THE LIONS IN RAGE.
Last Sunday violent thunder storm burst
over Paris. My apartment overlooks the
Cirque de pImperatrice in the Camps Elysees,
where the lions are kept, aid the scene for
short space was indescribably grand. The
air wasfull of electricity, and under its influ-
ence these animals, as is always the case, be-
came fearfully excited. They ran to and fro
in fierce and ungoyernable rage. They lash
ed their TANKS with their tails in passionate
vehemence Placing their mouths to the
ground, they reared in mingled rage and ter
ror. Their eyes dilated and seemed to flash
forth the lightnings of the tempest that RIO
ted within them. Without the roaring of
the lions was answered by the bowls of the
blast and the loud crash of the thunder
With these, at intervals, " ere mingled the
neighings of a hundred frightened horses in
the stables of the Circus. Gusts of wind
swept down the broad avenue and bowed the
lofty trees. The rain descended in torrents
The people fled before the demon of the
storm. For a few minutes the whole vicini-
ty appeared to give up to the furies of ele-
mental warfare. Scarce had the muttering
thunders died away in distant reverberations.
when the time drew near for Batty's advent
among his lions. AS he came in sight they
hailed him with boisterous uproar. Stand |
Ing upright against the bars of their cage,
they grappled them in their rage and gush-
ed upon him with their teeth. A man of
iron nerves could hardly have looked upon
them with calmness Had his body been
made of steel he would hardly have dared |
to trust himself among Them But Batty
did not quail. At bound he leaped into
the cage, despising all hesitation. Its iron
doorhe slammed after him with loud clano.
To US who looked on it seemed the gate of the |
sepulchre. His subjects glared at him as if |
they would instantly devour him. For a
moment he returned their glare and looked
steadily intothe eyes of each. They could |
not bear the test. One by one they covered
before him and skunk away, conscious Of |
their helplessness Again mind triumphed
over the rude dictates of instinct, and man.
the lord and master, lowered in his pride Of !
place. = 141 - r' 49, =
BArTYs GOODNESS IN PERIL
Inc exhibition proceeded and again the
Mons seemed powerless to resist, his com
mands. At length lioness who had been