The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-31
Lion Tanning.

MuGn ms Ottu Stlu ABOUT THANKSGIVING
or terrifying a lion by looking into his
eyes. | know all about that. Catch bis
eye and fix yours upon him, his eye-balls
slowly begin 10 expand and he becomes
blind. Then he will turn his head 20
that he may recover his vision. Look
out for yourself at such a time. When
he faces around again ne is ready to
strike. 4 person outside the den NAV
stare into the animals eyes as long as he
chooses, but the experienced lion will
quickly turn away when the keeper in
the den attempts the use Of his eyes. l
never had the slightest tear when en-
tered a den, and in that lies my success.
When l was cut here (pOiuting to a long
mark Just over his nOse) the blood filled
my eyes and blinded me, bat | kept on
yelling and using my whip, and that
saved me If | had shown a sign of
weakness, | might have been torn to
pieces-probably would have been
Last year, on decoration day, while |
was with Howe and Cushing's circus, /
went with a den of lions in the procession.
Old Parker, the famous animal who died
in central park some time ago, and who
left n record of four men killed, was in
the den. There was great crowd in the
street, and rs we were turning the corner
of sixteenth street and fourth avenue,
stirred up the lionesses, and they began
to fight. | tried to stop them, and used
the whip vigorously. Canada, an i'm
mense lion who was behind me, spraug
upon my back and fastened his teeth in
my waist Then he suddenly let go his
I hold and crOuched in his corner. 7 was
bleeding and vexed, and l ordered the
driver to get out of the procession and
90 back to the show. On the way | con-
tinually threatened Canada, but did
nothing until we were in the tent. After
my wounds had been dressed / returned
to the den, and had Canada tied down.
Then his claws were cut. He raved and
tossed turiously, and we gave him a
piece of pine bark to chew. He snapped
it into splinters. When he was united
two men at each end of the den pounded
him with iron bars, and [ beat him on
the head with my loaded whip. He
stood like a monument. l put him
through his regular performance after
ward, and he did it well.
In breaking an animal there is always
| danger that he may pass you and cut off
| your retreat. That's why | need assis-
/ lance from the outside-sOme one to
/ bit the lion on the back. When he is
/ thus struck he will quickly turn, and
! then your opportunity to escape has ar
/ rived. Old Parker was the best per-
/ forming lion in the country. | used to
/ put my head IN his mouth in three diff
/ ferent ways, and even the show people
couldn't tell how | succeeded in escaping
unhurt. That was my secret. (Laugh-
/ ing.) For instance, when he was on his
! back | wSuld kneel on his stomach, and
| forcing open his mouth, insert my head.
/ ] held him so that if he made the slight.
est show at biting me, he bit himself
/ first. pulled the flesh from his Jaws
! right over his teeth and held them with
a firm grip. Out in a country town,
where we wished to close our stay with
an exciting scene, | had a sponge soaked
with n fluid of bloody color, and this
/ sponge ] fastened to the top of the den.
| In the closing scene of the performance,
when the lions were evidently in their
/ greatest rage and while | was slashing
right and left with my whip and shout
ing at the top of my voice, / suddenly
grasped the sponge, and what seemed to
| be blood streamed over my arm. This
| always created the most terrific excite
ment and great cheering. "The mans
had his arm chawed Off" was the crv.
and the country newspapers gave de-
scripticns Of the awful scene. | had my
arm chawed off in all the country towns.
In feeding lions at the exhibitions
| never give them enough to let them
waste any in chewing. If did it would
| be fatal tome. Throw them little scraps
and as soon as they masticate these
stand ready with nay whip and whack
| them over the nose. The lioncss Nellie
owing to sickness, could not eat meat,
and | performed what seemed to be a
very wonderful trick with her. I'd take
a great chunk OF meat and hold it before
her Shed grasp it out of spite, and
| then we would have 4 seemingly frantic
struggle for its possession. When | be-
came the winner the applause was always
hearty and prolonged. The other lions
watched the tussle with deep interest,
and craved the meat, but | kept them at
bay. We always feed them raw beef
Liver acts upon them just as pills do
upon human beings.
In making an exit from a den l inva-
riably 90 from the door in the center of
the partition. The worst of the animals
are first shut in the end partition, and l
part from the pet in the second section.
| Lionesses are a hundred per cent. more
treacherous than lions The majority of
lion tanners who have been killed in dens
were drunk at the time. But not all of
them. There was poor Joe Whittle,
who was with John G'BIien's circus in
1874. He went into the den and caught
lion by the nose, and attempted the
novel feat of tossing the animal about.
Joe was terribly mangled, and we all sor-
rowed over his death.-N y. Sun.