Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-21
A Talk with a Lion-Tamer.
LrNaEL FIVE TIMES WOUNDED.

A lion-tamer named Lengel was severely
bitten in the leg by lionessin Charleston,
S. c., in April, and is still disabled in con-
ofthe wound. One of the Char
lesion papers describes visit to him as
follows:
1--WE found Mr.. Lengel lying down read
ing, not suffering much, butvery restless
He is apparently about 80 or 33 years OF
age, but is really ten years older. He told
us that he is native OF Philadelphia, and
has been engaged in the lion-taming busi-
ness for is years during which time he has
served in the circusses of }, M. June, ). B.
Howe, Phineas 7. Barnum, Haight & Cham
bers, Van Amburgh, Raymond q Co., Cast
clio and Ames, the latter of which he is
with at present. June is dead. Howe and
Barnum have quit the business, Haight d
Chambers failed in Texas two years ago.
Haight X Castillo are now showing in Cal
ifornia.
I'm answer to question as to his man
ner of tanning lions, he replied at length,
saving that it was gift of nature, with
him. 4 have no fear Of them. People tell
me every time geta wound that it ought
to be warning to me, and should make
me fear to 90 in the cage again. BUTT
does not. When lam away from the lions
I get homesick, and when / can go where
they are and my wounds prevent me from
going into the cage, get more homesick
still. / never met any lions could not
tame. Three years ago / tanned fye in
Now York. which, while in Europe. had
killed one man and badly mangled another,
who had attempted to tame them. In three
weeks after they were put in my charge
they were as tame as | wished, though be-
fore they wore considered untamable.
very seldom use force in tanning them, but
Sometimes it becomes necessary-kindness
is my usual plan; am always careful to
keep my eye upon them.
"Every one who has seen The lion-ta-
mer' leaving the cage after his feat of lying
down among the lions, putting his feet on
their heads, feeding them, and firing of
pistols, has DOUBTLESS noticed how careful
he was--stepping out backwards very de-
liberately, and watching closely the beasts
which always advanced upon him. In
speaking of this, he said; If did not
keep my eye npon them they would jump
at me. They have sense enough to know
that / am retreating from them, and they
gain courage; there is more danger to me
at this tune than at any other 1fthe lions
were at liberty, would fear to 60 near
them. Some people think that a lion born
in America is more doclile, partaking less
of the savage nature of the brute, than one
born in Africa or Asia. Not so. 1 would
rather have to tame litter born in either
of the Inst two mentioned places than lit
ter born in this country-the latter are more
dangerous and less easily tamed.'
HIS WOUND.
"Mr Lengel has been bitten number
of times by lions, liouesses we should have
said, MS the males have never done 80; 'the
lonesses, said he, are more treacherous
and deceitfl than the lions. He has been
slightly scratched an almost innumerable
number of times. He has never had to lay
up buttwlce from his wounds. The descrip.
ton OF the wounds at the places where he
received them are mentioned below.
THE first wound was 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 sew
erely bitten in the left hand. This wound
caused him to lose the use Of his middle
finger.
"The third was inflicted at Little Rock,
Ark, by ioness in Howe 81 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 Mad
ison, Indiana, last summer The lioness
seized him by the right leg, driving her
teeth into the calf of his leg until they near
ly met.
'The fifth was received last April in New
Orleans. The animal seized him by the left
leg, inserting one tooth of the lower jawan
inch aud half into the cali, and tooth
of the upper jaw the same depth into the
upper side of the knee joint Mr.. Lengel
was confined to his bed while, but when
the circus moved he came along and gave
two exhibitions, one in Augusta and onoin
Savannah, the latter Of which he says is q
paradise for a circus On coming here he
made arrangements toperform last Wednes-
day, but his leg paining him, he consulted
DIR. F. NJ. Robertson, who ordered him 10
bed at once, telling him that the bone Of
tho leg was injured. This order was
obeyed, and Mr.. Lengel still remains in
bed. He is able, however, TO travel about
the room occasionally.
"It is somewhat Of coincidence that
DIR. Robertson has attended his patient on
two other occasions. at the Pavilion Hotel
for wounds received from lionesses ALI Of
the wounds being upon the left side of tho
body. ......
Herr Lengel does not think he was Bit
ten but once Intentionally, He says the
lionesses when together never meet but
they snarl and snap at each other-two Of
them never live peacefully in the same cage
and states II as his opinion that, with the
exception mentioned, when he aggravated
one beyond endurance, he was in the way
and was bitten for one Of the lionesses
He has the teeth and claws of the lioness
which he thinks bit him purposely. The
teeth are an inch and hasf long, with O
root about two and half inches in length,
II the teeth were driven in flesh up to the
gums, large sized peach stone could be
planted 10 the hole. The claws, which the
animal, like the cat, keeps upexposed till
wanted, are formidable-looking objelts.-
We do not now doubt, MS we once did, the
assertions Of travellers, that one blow from
lions paw would kill man or tear out
great masses of flesh. Herr Lengel Saws
h64earg their claws more than their teeth,
that they generally strike before they bite
"Herr Lengelwill have 10 remain here
about ten days longer, after which it ID
probable he will be able to. Eeioin his COM
pany. li. .it nv
"A novel style of head-dress in Paris.
and theveiy latest, too--isa garland OF tu.
ls..a 4