The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-07-08
A Conversation with Herr Lengel, the Lion
Tanner.
HIS WOUND AND WOUNDS AND HIS EXPERT
RIENCE WITH LIoNEsSEs.

IameT.
HIS WOUND AND WOUNDS AND HIS EXPERT
RIENCE WITH LIONEsSEs
We very much doubt if there is a man,
woman or child in the United States,
where circus has been, that has not
heard Of Herr Lengel, the lion tamer-all
of whom will read with interest the state
ments below, cleaned from conversation
held with him yesterday afternoon at the
Pavilion Hotel, where he lays nursing
leg badly bitten by lioness in April last.
HIS CIRCUS EXPERIENCE.
We found Mr.. Lenge lying down read
ing, not suffering much, but very restless.
He is apparently about thrty-two or
thirty-three years of age, but is really ten
years older. He told us that he is ma
tive of Philadelphia, and has been engag-
ed in the lion tanning business for eighteen
years, during which time he has served
in the circusses of J. NJ. June, S. B. Howe,
Phineas T. Barnum, Haight & Chambers,
Van Amburgh, Raymond T. Co., Castello
and Ames, the latter Of which he is with
at present.
June is dead Howe and Barnum have
quit the business, Haight & Chambers
failed in Texas, two years ago. Haight
and Castillo are now showing" in Cali
fornia.
HIS EXPERIENCE WITH LIONS.
In answer to question as to his man.
ner of tanning lions, he replied al length,
saying that sit was gift of nature" with
him. l have no fear of them. People
tell me every time get a wound that it
ought to be warning to me, and should
make me fear to go in the cage again.
But it does not. When I am away from
the lions get homesick, and when l can
90 where they are and my wounds pre-
vent me from going into the cage, l get
more homesick still. l never met any
lions I could not tame Three years ago,
I tanned five in New York, which, while
| in Europe had killed one man and badly
manged another, who attempted to tame
them. In three weeks after they were
put in my charge, they were as tame as
wished though before they were consid-
cred untamable. l very seldom use force
in tanning them, but tsometimes it becomes
ecessary-kindness is my usual plan |
am always careful to keep my eye upon
them.
Every one who has seen rThe lion
tanner" leaving the cage after his feat of
laying down among the lions, putting his
feet on their heads, feeding them, and dr-
ing off pistols, has doubtless noticed how
careful he was-slepping out backwards
very deliberately, and watching closely
the beasts which always advanced upon
him. In speaking of this, he said: elf l
did not keep my eye upon them they
would jump at me. They have sense
enough to know that l am retreating
from them, and they gain courage there
is more danger 10 me ut this time than at
any other. 1t the lions were at liberty: i
would fear to 20 near them. Some peo-
pie think that lion born in America is
more docile, partaking less of the savage
nature of the brute, than one born in
Africa or Asia. Not so. I would rather
have to tame litter born ia either OF the
last two mentioned places than a litter
bron in this country-the latter are more
dangerous and less easily tanned.
HIS WOUNDS.
Mr.. Lengel has been bitten number
of times by lions, lionesses we should
have said, as the males have never done
so; the lionesses, said he, care more
treacherous and deceitful than the liens"
He has been slightly scratched an almost
innumerable number Of times. He has
never had to lay up but twice from his
wounds. The description of the wounds
and the places where he received them
are mentioned below.
The first wound was a bite in the left
leg, in Western Pennsylvania, while with
Barnum's Circus.
The second was received while with S. B
Howe & Co. in Augusta, Ga, being severy
bitten in the left hand. This wound caus-
ed him to lose the use of his middle fin.
ger.
The third was inflicted at Little Rock,
Ark, by lioness in Howe & Castello's
Circus. This time two fingers of the right
hand were mangled. He has full use of
them now.
The fourth was received while in Madi-
son Indiana, last summer Ine i'oncsS
seized him by the right leg, driving her
teeth into the calf Of his leg until they
nearly met.
The fifth was received last April in New
Orleans The animal seized him by the
left leg, Inserting one tooth OF the lower
Jaw an inch and u half into the calf, and
Il tooth of the upper jaw the same depth
into the upper side of the knee joint. Mr..
LengeI was confined to his bed while,
but when the circus moved he came along,
and gave two exhibitions. one in Augusta
and one in Savannah, the latter of which
he says is q paradise for circus. On
coming here he made arrangements to
perform last Wednesday, but his leg pam
ing him, he consulted Dr. F. NJ. Robertson,
who ordered him to bed at once, telling