The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-17
The Lion-KiIIer.

People in Tdnis, Africa-at least, some
OF the older people-often talk of the
wonderful exploits of ion-klller who
story is this, and is said to be entirely
true:
The lion-killer was called "The
Siciliap," because his native country
was Sicily; and he was known as "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 a
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 projigies of
strength with SO much gracefulness and
ease as to astonish al who saw them.
He was 4 member OF a travelling show
company that visited Tunis-very much
as menagerie 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, bnt also to rep
resent scenes by pantomime SO that they
would appear to the audience exactly as
Il the real scenes were being performed
before their very eyes. In one Of these
scenes he showed the people how be Lad
encountered and killed lion with a
wooden club in the country of Damas.
Gus. This is the manner in which he
did It:
After q flourish of trumpets, the Sicil-
ian came upon the stage, which was ar
ranged to represent q 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, 50 charmed were the
people with his beauty and dignity.
Then an interpreter cried:
"The Christian will show you how,
with his club, he killed a lion in the
country OF Damascus -
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 its
movements with the graceful motions
of his own body, SO naturally and suita-
bly, as to captlvate the attention of the
spectators.
The lion surely is there p' they
whispered. " We do not see him, but
he sees himi How he watches his least
mot1onl How resolute he is! He will
not allow himself to be surprised"
Suddenly the Sicilian leaps; with q
bound he has crossed from one palm
tree to another, and, with a 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
h1m, and, crouched and angry, stops at
the foot Of the tree. The SiciIian, lean
ing over, notes the slightest change of
posture; then, like a 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 well 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 il the country Of na-
mascus."
The fame of the Sicilian 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 to
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:
Ii this Christian has killed one lion
with club he can kill another. Tell
him that If he viii knock down nv grand
hon with it, [ viii give him a thou-
sand ducats quite large sum in
those days, ducat being about equal To
the American dollar.
AT this time the Bey had several vorno
hons that ran freely about in the courS
yard or garden of his palace, and in q
great pit, entirely surrounded by a high
terrace. On level with the ground floor
OF the palace, a superb Atlas lion was
keptln royal captivity. 1t was this lion
that the Bey wished the Sicil1an to com
bat. The proposition was sent to the
SlcllIan, who accepted it without hesita-
ton, and without boast what he would do.
The combat was to take place a week
from that time, and the announcement
that the handsome Sicilian was to fight
a duel with the grand lion was spread
lar ana Wide, even to the borders of the
desert producing profound sensation.
everybody, old and young, great and
small, desired to be present; moreover.
the people would be freely admitted to
the garden OF the Bey, where they could
witness the combat from the ton of the
terrace. The duel was to be early nj
the morning, before the heat of the day.
During the week that interviewed the
Slcllian performed every day in The
show, instead Of two DAYS week
as had been his custom. Never was
be more calm, graceful and fascinating
IN his performances. The evening be.
tore -, eventful day he repeated in
pantomlme his victory over the lion near
damascus with so much elegance. pre-
clslon and suppleness as to elicit round
after round of enthusiastic cheers OF
course everybody who had seen him ,,lqu
killing hon was wild with curiosity to
see him actually fight with a real lion.
So, on the following morning, in the
early dawn, the terrace around the lions
PIT was crowded with people. For three
days the grand lion had been deprived
OF food in order that he might be the
more ferocious and terrible. His ewes
shone like two balls of fire, and he in
cessantly dashed his TANKS with his tail.
At one moment he would madly roar,
and, IN the next, rub himself against the
wall, valnly trying to find chink be-
tween the stones in which to insert his
claws
Precisely at the appointad bo,,r Al.