The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-27

| Driesbach, The Lion Tanner.
Herr Driesbach, the well known
lion tanner, died at Apple Greek sta
ton, Wayne county, Ohio, at the age
of seventy years. Herr Driesbach, o,
Jake Driesbach, as he was known
when boy, was born in Sharon. Scho-
harie county, n. Y, on the ID of'N. :
vember, 1907. He was the seventh 0
+ family of ten children. His faher
was a carpenter. and young Driesbacl
worked with him st the same business
until the year 1884, when he secured 4.
position in q chipping house in New
York city. At a hotel where bs
boarded, also boarded some of the
employees of the Geological Gardens
with whom he became acquaintei
Not having employment in the ship
ping house during the winter months.
he got work in the Garden. One da,
he was set to clean the cage OF Bra
lillian tiger. 1t was the custom to re-
main on the outside to clean it. No,
being satisfied with this mode of pro
ceeding, when the men were absen
he crept into the cage and began tt
clean. Some of the men coon cam.
around, and seeing Driesbach in the
cage with the wild beast, they told hin
''to get OUT" che would get killed );
nobody had ever been in there be-
FORE" etc. Jake told them he guessed
not; he would attend to that; ht
wanted to get the "darned thing cieat
once"
Not long after this Driesbach train.
ed several animals, and Mr.. Rsymon.
who was at the time one of the stock
holders Of the concern, shipped him
to Europe. In England he met with
unprecedented success, showing il
London before Queen Victoris ant
went to Paris, where he exhibited in
the Nation 81 Theater before the Gro WI
ed heads and mobiles. From there h.
went to Lyons, Avignon, Bordeaux
etc. then back to England, Ireland
aud Scotland, visiting all of the prin-
eipal cities. His fame was establish
was greeted with overfowing house.
at the Bowery Thea,er and elsewhere
This " As about the year 1910. lie filled
two weeks engagement at the Bow
cry.
President Van Buren, thought Jai G
and his wonderful lions curiosities,
and was at the Bowery one nigh.
when Driesbach drove his favorit,
across the stage in a. golden chariot
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, etc.
were next visited. Three plays were
written expressly for him, with part
for him and his pets. These he pro
duced in grand style. with full com
lowing summer Herr Driesbachs me.
nagerie was put on the road. Isay
mond s. Weeks were the proprietors.
The first colored show posters tina.
were ever printed we're gotten out fo,
this menagerie. The cuts were
rough picture of the Lion Tanner il
those days with his pets. They were
engraved by Joe Morse and worked
by Thaddeus Anderson. They were
rough-looking things besides the mag.
nificent bills of the present day, bu'
no doubt answered the purpose Jus.
as well.
Driesbach's menagrie having me-
with so much success, show stock
which had fallen to twelve cents OF.
the dollar, began to rise, and the bust
ness took fresh start. Driesbach.
however, continued to give theatrical
exhibitions during the winter months,
and in after life he used to relate some
amusing incidents that happened.
Here is one in his own words
81 was exhibiting in the city of Bal
t;more. We were playing piece in
which one of my tigers was to sud
denly leap from above me, as if to
kill me. After it would jump on to
me we would roll around on the floor.
to all appearances engaged in mortal
combat. The theater in which we
were playing had large pit, and it
was filled almost to suifocation that
evening with boys and men. This
time the fellow jumped over my head
aud was flying for the pit when !
caught him by the tail and hauled him
back. l needn't tell you that stand
ing room was made mighty quick in
that pit when thoy saw the animal
coming. They rousted out pell. nell,
yelling and screaming for me to Hold
on to him!"
An amusing incident is related con
cerning Driesbach and the late Edwin
Forrest. When the latter was play
ing at the old Broadway. in. New
Y YOrk, his pieces were followed by an
of lions by their tanner,
Driesbach. Forrest was one day say.
ing that he had never been afraid in
all his life-cOuld not Imagine the
emotion. Driesbach made no remark
at the time, but in the evening when
The curtain had fallen, invited For
rest home with hiIn. Forrest assent
ed, the two, entering house, walked
\ long distance, through many de,i-
Dus passages, all dark until finally
Driesbach, opening door, said:
s This way Mr.. Forrest" Forrest en-
tered, aud immediately heard the
door slammed and locked behind him.
He had not time to express any sur
prise at this, for at the same III oment
he felt something soft rubbing against
L;, ln., o,.3 ,,nfttnn ont bo,,l