Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-03-14
Fighting a Tiger.
Terrible Scene in FOrepaugh's s
Menagerie in PhiladeIphia-The
Trainer Attacked by Royal
Bengal Tiger-NarrOw Escape.
From the Philadelphia telegram

: BenSal IlSef-NarrOW. Escape.
From the Philadelphia Telegraph ]
The menagerie of Adam Fore
paugh, Esq =, is housed in winter
quarters at Twenty-second anc
Nassau streets. Here it is that
he has his magnificent collection
of animals Among others, he
possesses magnificent royal Ben
gal tiger and two large lions. He
determined to devote the winter
months TO the training of these
animals for exhibition during his
summer tour, and accordingly Sc
cured the services of Herr Darious,
the great lion tanner of European
fame, who came directly from the
Geological Society gardens at
Hamburg, Germany. The tanner
arrived on Christmas day and i'm
m, diately began his task. He
mad large den erected in the
.south building Of solid white oak,
three inches thick, with an open
front, interlaced with iron bars
crossing each other at regular in
tervals. At one end there is a
door, through which the den is en-
tered, and in the centre is a swing
ing partition, which divides the
den into two apartments, and
which may be opened or closed at
the trainers will. In this strong
den the lions and tigers were
placed, separated By the partition,
except when being trained, when
they repermitted to be together.
Yesterday, as he had done every
day since his arrival, Herr Dari-
Gus entered the den. He noticed
almost Immediately that some
thing was wrong. particularly
with the tigers. Theireyes had a
strange glare, and his training
thong brought forth ominous
growls. The menagerie nature
of the beast seemed to be fading,
and that of the jungle asserting
itself Nothing daunted, Darious
fearlessly continued his task, IN,
til opportunity offering, he made
sudden spring. grasped the parti-
ton door, and closed it with a.
crash. BIT he was not alone
there was tiger with him. The
separation from It's mate at once
lashed into fury the slumbering
ferocity of the animal, and with
frightful yell he leaped upon the
trainer and bore him to the floor
of the den. As Herr Ddrious
went on his face, with the heavy
form of the monster across him.
he uttered one loud cry for help,
and then lay still as death, know
ing that it was his only hope. The
attaches Of the place came running
to the scene, but stood dumb with
terror. And now from the other
side of the partition came the most
frightiul roars, groans and yells,
as the lions and tigers dashed to
and fro, and sprang heavily against
the door.
Herr Darious still lay beneath
the tigers claws, when Adam
FOrepaugh, the proprietor, sudden.
ly drove up in his carriage 1t
took but a second for him to COM
prehend the situation, but another
to act. The head of the beast
was from him. It's lcny tail switch,
ing to and fro with a cat-like !
movement. With heroic bravery.
quick as lightning, Mr.. Forepaugh |
thrust bis arm through the bars,
seized one of the tigers hind legs,
and bracing himself with his foot,
jerked it through the grating.
Quick Tor Gods sake, save
yourSelf!" he shouted, and, as the
tiger turned with a yell at the
sudden pain, the trainer leaped to
his feet and escaped from the den
of death. And thus by the won
derful presence of mind Of Herr
Darious, and the no less wonder
full bravery of Mr.. Forepaugh in
seizing the tigers hind paw, a
human life was saved, the trainer
escaping with few scratches.
During the affair the roars of |
the beasts threw the other ami
mails into the greatest excitement. |
Old Romeo, the elephant, the
champion "keeper-killer," became
almost unmanaGeable. in the
upper story, a cocoon gnu or
horned horse, one of Mr.. Fore
paugh's recent importations, and
one of the most vicious of all ami.
mails, broke through his cage and
made an immediate attack On one
of the zebra cages, containing a
beautiful and valuable animal.
In less than q moment the front
was battered down and the poor
zebra lay dying, gored to death.