The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-01-03
The Lion Killer.

was IduOuS OlcE6 lOLGy years dSOs LA0
story is this, and is said to be entirely
true:
The lion-killer was called "The
Sicilian," because his native country
was Sicily; and he was known as l'The
Christian" among the people in Tunis,
who were mostly Arabs, and, conse-
quently, Mohammedans. He was also
called Hercules" because of his
strength-that being the name of q
strong demi-god OF the ancient Greeks.
He was not built like Hercules, how
ever; he was tall, but beautifully pro-
portioned, and there was nothing in his
form that betrayed his powerful mus
cles. He performed prodigies of
strength with so much gracefulness and
ease as to astonish all who saw them.
He was member of a travelling show
company that visited Tunis-very much
as naenagerie and circus troupes go
about this country now from town to
town. His part of the business was,
not simply to do things that would dis
play his great strength, but also to rep
resent scenes by pantominne so that they
would appear TO the audience exactly as
if the real scenes were being performed
before their very eyes. In one of these
scenes he showed the people how he had
encountered and killed q lion with a
wooden club in the country of Damas-
GUS This is the manner in which he
did it:
After flourish OF trumpets, the Sicil-
ian came upon the stage, which was ar
ranged to represent circle, or arena,
and had three palm-trees in the middle.
He was handsomely dressed in a cos
tune of black velvet, trimmed with sill
yer braid, and, as he looked around
upon the audience with a grave but gen
tie expression, and went through with
the Arabian salutation, which was to
bear his right hand to his heart, mouth
and forehead successfully, there was
perfect silence, so charmed were the
people with his beauty and dignity.
Then an interpreter cried:
"The Christian will show you how,
with his club, he killed O lion in the
country Of Damascus p
Immediately following this came
another flourish Of trumpets and strik-
ing Of cymbals, as if to announce the
entrance of the lion. Quickly the ST.
Gillian sprung behind one of the three
palms, whence to watch his enemy.
With an attentive and resolute eye, lean
ing his body first to the right and then
to the left of the tree, he kept his gaze
on the terrible beast, following all it's
movements with the graceful motions
of his own body, so naturally and suita-
bly, as to captivate the attention of the
spectators.
"The lion surely is there p they
whispered. We do not see him, but
he sees him I How he watches his least
notion How resolute he is F! He will
not allow himself to be surprised"
Suddenly the Sicilian leaps; with a
bound he has crossed from one palm
tree to another, and, with second
spring, has climbed halfway up the
tree, still holding his massive club in
one hand. One understands by his
movements that the lion has followed
him, and, crouched and angry, stops at
the foot Of the tree. The Sicilian, lean
ing over, notes the slightest change of
posture; then, like flash of light, he
leaps to the ground behind the trunk of
the tree; the terrible club makes a whist
ling sound as it swings through the air,
and the lion falls to the ground.
The scene was SO we'll played that the
widest applause came from all parts Of
the audience.
Then the interpreter came in, and,
throwing at the feet of the Hercules a
magnificent lions skin, cried:
''Behold the skin of the lion that the
Christian killed in the country of Da-
mascus.
The fame Of the Sieilian reached the
ears of the Bey of Tunis. But the royal
dignity of the Bey, the reigning Prince
of that country, would not allow him tc
be present at exhibitions given to the
common people. Finally, however,
having heard so much about the hand.
some and strong Sicilian, he became
curious to see him, and said
IF this Christian has killed one lion
with club he can kill another. Tel
him that if he will knock down nv GRAND
lion with it, will give him q thou.
sand ducats quite a large sum il
those days, ducat being about equal tC
the American dollar.
At this time the Bey had several youne
lions that ran freely about in the court
yard or garden of his palace, and in 6
great pit, entirely surrounded by high
terrace, on level with the ground-foo1
of the palace, superb Atlas lion was
keptin royal captivity. 1t was this Eor
that the Bey wished the Sicillan to com
bat. The proposition was sent to the
Sicilian, who accepted it without hesita
ton, and without boast what he would do
The combat was to take place weel
from that time, and the announcement
that the handsome Sicilian was to fight
a duel with the grand lion was spreac
far and wide, even to the borders of the
desert, producing profound sensation
Everybody, old and young, great ant
small, desired to be present; moreover
the people would be freely admitted t
the garden Of the Bey, where they coul(