Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1866-01-27
The Late Van A IN b urgh.


u, Philadelphia. ISL"
Mr.. Van Amburgh was born in FISH
kill, New York, and was abou. IS years
Of aye. He was so we'll known in this
country, as we'll as in England and on the
Continent, and was 80 universally respec-
ted, tina, his death will be regarded as
matter of public concern.
At an early age Mr.. Van Amonrgh be-
gan the career in which he was after
wards 80 noted, by travelling with me-
nnserie Hc became keeper of ari-
mails, and soon exhibited the exlraordina.
ry power over them which he possessed.
At this time III. most terocious beasts
were not ordinarily famed, 'hough they
we're exhibited in cages with oecrs that
were more easily managed aud which
were frequently tanned. Van Amhursh
early cam. ,n the conclusion that lions,
tigers, etc ,nsnl be gwen this training,
II the proper mode were adopted and he
wac the originator Of the idea # on,er.
ing their cages or dens. and Of exhi;,tlng
"pirt lres," so--alled, or groupings, with
which the public is familiar and which
we're not previously produced or astempt-
ed by the persons who went into the dens
Van Ambursh succeeded in maxim. the
performances artistic. and they became a
feature OF The exhibitions with which he
was connected.
lie made bis first appearance in New
York Guy in 1888, ut the Old Richmond
Hill Theatre, and performed in the cages
Of the lions, tiger, leoparIs and other At
imal.. In the same season, after the hnl
'day,, he began an engagement a, the
Bowe,y Theatre, then under the manage
men, Of I. S. llamblin, appearing in a
melo-drama, written for him by Miss Me-
din., and entitled 1.-The Lion Lord; or
the Forest Mona,c h,' in which he intro
duced his trained animals. la this place
he rode = horse from the stage up 'set
o., ruus,' or mimic wilds and while on
the way, roya! Bengal tiger sprang from
II thicket upon him. 4 ieariul struggle
then took place between Van Amlurnh
All! the tiger; they clutched at each 9th
or and erarpled, and the contest cont'n-
ued, the eombata"ts rolling and 'un, bling
tl.,p hal h, w.
exhibition, The finest Of the KIND, natural
" created an ,min.nse seHsat,on.
H. 1884 join, stock COMPANY formed
the Il 'olosical Institute, which went Into
operation in the Bowery. At this place
Van Amburgh performed every ~iuter u,-
Ill 1888. While playing there he intro
duced several "noveltles," as he called
them. such as the p'uns'ng Of his arm in
~ bucket OF fresh bullock blood before
enter the animals cages. and Of feeding
The animals in their ca-es
1t is we'll known that when taking their
food they are yer, ieroci"us. and lhu, The
sight or smclt oi fresh meat sets them ln-
10 fury. They are usually, it should be
said, led from the outside ol the cage, aud
gr,as care is taken to prevent them FROM
striking the persons wEo give them their
food.
Van Amburgh also introduced into
the presence Of the lion q child aud a
lamb. The thought was suggested to
him by The Scripture phrase "The lion
and the lamb shall lie down together,
aud little child shall lead them All
these things attracted great attention aud
interest.
In the sprin. Of 1888, he played at the
old Nation Il Theatre, under the manage
ment OF J. W. Wallack. senior, but sailed
for Europe i" July of that year lie made
his first appearance i" London at Aslley's
Amphithentre. So marked u sensation
was created that he wa, sooa engaged by
NJ. Bum Tor Drnry Lane. whore he APP
peared in u drama wri ten expre,sl to in
ruduee his performances.
His career at this theater Was singular
y suc. es ,ful, the interest in his exhib,'
tons was intense, and the crowds tha,
came 10 see them were without parallel. -
There was. however, some opposition
on account Of the fac. partly that Mac
ready appeared Ut the same time u, Con
vent Garden, in Shakesperian charac
| ters. r..
The young Queen Victoria, early j.
| 1889, made several visits ~ VIM An
bursh, aud Witnessed his management. -
On one OCCASION she rvlnaiusd uatil tn
audience hAa gone 10 see further perior-
Mates, including the feeding Vi III
bsasss. They hsd been Kept without foo