American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-04-06
Fighting a Tiger.

The following desc' iptiOn of a
scene in Forepaush's menagerie is
taken from the Philadelphia 1ete- !
graph:
The menagerie of Adam Fore
paugh, Esq, is housed in winter
quarters at Twenty second and Mas |
sau streets. Here it is that he has
his magnificent collection of ami
mails. Among others he possesses
IL magnificent royal Bengal tiger
aud TWO large lions. He determined
to devote the winter months to the
training OF these animals for exhi-
bition during his summer tour. and
accordingly secured the services of
Herr Darious, the great lion tanner
of European tame, who came di-
rectly from the geological Society
GARDENS, at Hamburg, Germany.
The tanner arrived ON Christmas day
and Immediately began his task.
He had a large den erected in the
south building of solid white oak
three inches thick, with an open
front, interlaCed with iron barscrOss
ing each other at regular intervals.
At one end there is IL door, through
which the den is entered. and in the
)cen're is swing partition. which
divid, the den into apartments,
and which may be opened or closed
at the trainers will. In this strong
den the lions and tigers were plac-
ed, separated by the partition ex-
cept when being trained, when they
were permitted to be together.
Yesterday, as he had done every
day since his arrival, Herr DarlOus
entered the den. He noticed almost
Immediately that something was
wrong, particularly with the tigers.
Their eyes had II strange glare and
his training thong brought forth
OMNIBUS grOwls. The menagerie
nature of the beast seemed to be
fading, aud that of the jungle as
: sorting itself Nothing daunted.
Darious fearlessly continued his
task, until opportunity offering, he
maze a sudden spring, grasped the
: partition door and closed it with a
crash. But he was not alone
! there was d tiger with him. The
separation from its mate at once
dashed into fury the slumbering
ferOcity of the animal, and with a
t trightful yell he leaped upon the
r trainer and bore him to the floor of
! the den. AS Herr Darious went on
his face, with the heavy form of the
r monster across him, he uttered one
loud Cry for help, and then lay still
as death knowing that it was his
only hope. The attaches of the
place came running to the scene,
3, uut stood dumb with terror. And
< now from the other side of the par
: ii,ion came the most frightful roars.
T groans, and yells, as the lions and
+ tigers dashed to and fro, and sprang
= heavily against the door.
J. Herr DariOus still lay beneath
+ the Tigers claws, when Adam Fore
t paugh, the proprietor, suddenly
: drove up in his carriage. 1t took
: but second for him to comprehend
the situatiOn-but another second
to act. The head of the beast was
from him, and its long tail switch
ing to and fro with a catlike move
). ment. With heroic bravery, Quick
i as lightning, Mr.. Forepaugh thrust
q his arm through the bars, seized
n one of the tigers hind legs, and
bracing himself with his foot jerke ed
/. it through the grating.
), "Quick! for Gods sake, save
n yourself" he shouted, and as the
!. tiger turned with a yell at the sud
t den pain, the trainer leaped to his
' feet and escaped from the den OF
n death. And thus by the wonderful
/ presence of mind of Herr Darious
q and the no less bravery of Mr.. Fore
r paugh in Selling the tigers hind
= paw, human life was saved, the
p trainer escaping with but only &
few scratches.
! During the affair the roars of the
h beasts threw the O.her animals into
the greatest excitement. Old RO
), meo, the elephant, the champion
keeper Killer" became almost I'M
n manageable. In the upper story 8
cocoon gnu, or horned horse, one Of
r MIR. Forepaugh's recent importa
tiOns, and one of the most vicious
. of all animals, broke through the
f cage and made an immediate and
r terrible attack on one of the zebra
b. cages, containing a beautiful and
valuable animal. In less than d
= moment the front was battered
e down, and the poor zebra lay dying
gored to death. Proceeding TO tn {
f den containing the great Gland, the
= Gnu began to batter at the wnewOrE
here, but his horns becoming en-
tangled. he was captured and placed
y in safe quarters without doing fur
, ther damage.