The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-10

prevent me from going into the cage, get
more homesick still. / never met any lions l
could not tame. Three years ago l tanned
five in New 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
before they were considered untamable. L
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-taner
leaving the cage after his feat of lying down
among the lions putting his feet on their
heads, feeding them, and firing off pistols,
has doubtless noticed how careful he was
stepping out backwards very deliberately, and
watching closely the beasts which, always al
vanced upon him. In speaking of this, he
said;-H 1 did not keep my eye upon 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 time than at any other
If the lions were at liberty, l would fear to go
near them. Some people think that lion
born in America is more docile, partaling
less of the savage nature of the brute, than
one born in Africa or Asia. Not so. would
rather have to tame litter born in either of
the last two mentioned places than litter
dangerous and less easily tanned
HIS WOUNDS
'Mr. Lengel has been bitten a number of
times by lions honesses we should have said,
as the males have never done so: the
honesses said he, ARE more treacherous and
deceitful than the lions He has been
slightly scratched an almost innumerable
number of times. He has never had to lay
up but twice from his wounds The descrip-
nf tln ,1r
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 d Co., in Augusta, Georgia, being
severely bitten in the left hand This wound
caused him to lose the use of his middle
finger
''The third was inflicted at Little Rock,
Arkansas, by a lioness in Howe q Castellos
Circus. This time two fingers of the right
hand were mangled. He has full use of them
now.
''The fourth was received while in Madison.
Indiana, last summer. The lioness 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 half into the calf, and tooth of
the upper jaw the same depth into the lower
side of the knee joint. Mr.. Lengel was con-
fined to his bed while, but when the circus
moved he came along, and gave two exhibi-
tions, one in Augusta and one in Savannah,
the latter Of which he says is a paradise for
a circus. On coming here he made arrange
ments to perform last Wednesday, but his leg
paining him, he consulted Dr. F. NJ. Robert
son, who ordered him to bed at once, telling
him that the bone of the 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 ionesses-all of the
wounds being upon the left side of the body.
Herr Lengel does not think he was bitten
but once Intentionally. He says the lion
esses when together never meet but they snarl
and snap at each other-two of them never
live peacefully in the same cage-and states
it as his opinion that with the exception men
toned, when he aggravated one beyond en-
durance, he was in the way, and was bitten
for one of the honesses. He has the teeth
and claws of the ioness which he thinks bit
him purposely. The teeth are an inch and
half long, with root about two and half
inches in length. If the teeth were driven in
flesh up to the gums, a large-sized peach
stone could be planted in the hole. The
claws, which the ANIMAL like the cat keeps
unexposed till wanted are formidable-looking
objects We do not now doubt, as 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
says he fears their paws more than their
teeth, that they generally strike before they
bite.
''Herr Lengel will have to remain here
about ten days longer, after which it is pro-
bable he will be able to rejoin his company.
MARINE TETECR Apu