The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-07-31
THE DOG ANDLIONFIGHT.

east show of WOmbwell had been we'll
newn in Great Britain 1t was with ;
rev of getting money by bringing hi:
ions more into public notice, that The
1rcprietor. in the year 1895. spread wide
Il the report that lie had matched hi:
f16rgest liGa &c 1gns win SIX dogs OF tho
M an.1 mastiff breed. for stake of fiv,
housand pounds. This report created ;
rnsation of no common kind-cxcitins
Me Indignation of the humane, and pan
efing to the bati3arlty of the cruel. The
oortmg-classes were in a fever and the
bg fighting world raBid with anticipa
hon. The press was loud in its dcnuncia
IONS of a spectacle so inhuman: but GOV
tousncsS is cruel, and Wombwell wa:
hot to be persuaded to abandon the gold
Sn harvest he, hoped to reap. -. -g-~
1t had been more than tao centuries
nee lion-fght had taken place III En-,
land: the encounter in the reign OF
james l.. when mastiffs were matched
against lion for the entertainment OF
HE court, having been the last exhibi
Non of this kind. Some naturalists there
were who altogether lost sight of the in
humanity of the spectacle, in the aldol
4 their desire to know the relative degree
superiority possessed by the lion over
Ie 1nastIff and bulldog.
The most celebrated of Wombwell's
ons was Nero, a tame and incffensive
Feature. though of great stature and
haiestic appearance; and it was this ami
hal tnat was reported to have been
Matched by WombwelI against the six
pgs. He was whelped in the capital OF
cotland, and had been brought up as
me as lap-dcg. Wallace, another OF
ombwell's lions, was smaller but a
Iuch more savage and formidable ami
al.
i By many it was supposed that the re-
rted bet of five thousand pounds, said
have been made by Wombwell, was a
brication, and little doubt of this was
forwards entertained As the day OF
fight approached, public excitement
came extreme, humanity was more ur-
mt in its appeal, and Indignation louder
its thunders. Private individuals used
keir influence to dissuade Wombwell
pm his purpose, AMI the press redoubletl
importantly and condemnation; but
e lion owner was obduratc to cntreatv
ID reproach.
The place fixed upon for the fight was
hollow square enclosure in the suburbs
Warwick, on the road to Northampton
He'd ''thc Old Factory Yard" Two
Hes of this hollow square were occupied
the empty workshops of the old facto
many stories high, the windows OF
hich were fitted up and furnished with
hts, and the other two sides were filled
with caravans of wild beasts. The
lge, formed of iron bars. in which tn,
mbat aas to take place, stood in the
6addlc of the enclosure. It was about
leen feet square, and ten high, with
ON between the bars for the dogs to rur
and out, while the floor of it was eleya
q as much as four or five feet from til,
Ound.
Wombwcll's expectations of profit must
I'VE been unreasonable, for the charges
first demanded were: half guinea fol
hnding places; seats at remote windows
guinea; fourth-tioor seats, two guineas
I'd seats on the first, second and third
bors, three guincas each. These prices
bwevcr could not be sustained. Wheth
it was that the disgust which the an
bunsement of the fight had called forth
some other cause, had operated to pre-
nt many from being present who woulC
dlingly have attended, certain it is that
e gathering fell far short of what haG
zen anticipated. Too many there were
resent, but not enough to be an cncour
cement to so barbarous an enterprise.
A fit sort of prelude to the inhumar
pectaclc which was to take place occur.
On the night before the combat, fol
ght dogs intended to be opposed to the
pn, having been placed together by
eir brutal guardian, instead Of being
tasunder, their natural ferocity pro
ced a general fight, in which one dog
Is killed outright, and another lost an
and part of his cheek. Their keep,
said it was not his fault, but the dogs
"they didn't ought to quarrel" being
u on the same side
During the morning Of the day on
lch the combat was to take place, the
IS that were to fight were made show
at the Green Dragon" at an admit.
zee of sixpence In the caravans round
yard, besides the lion Nero, the hero
the day. We're three other lions, a lion.
a she wolf with cubs, two .leepar6s
fh cubs, white bear, a hyena, two ze
s, wild asses, monkeys, and a multi
1c of other creatures. Nero lay quiet
his caravan, looking unconcern-
y at the preparations making
his own annoyance.
well's@trun,peters, arrayed~ IL
ldy colors and mounted on horses
Fe sent forth through the streets OF
srwick, bennington, and the village:
= to announce the coming fight. Sew
0'clock IN the evening was the houl
ID on for the commencement of tht
Qbat. Accommodation was made for
usand people to witness the fight, an(
put five hundred attended. The money
zen may be roundiy stated to be fou
ndred pounds, and the expenses were
put one hundred The three hundred
nnds profit were but miserable in
unity for So much inhumanity. sin an(
grace
Of the six dogs which were to fight
sand Tiger were brown; Captain, fal
and white; Rose, skcwbald; Nettie
ndled, with Il black head; and Nelson
lte, with brindled spots. Many hat
etold that the hon Nero was too tame t.
ut and this proved TO be correct. Ne
having entered iron cage from hi
caravan, all was at length ready 70
cruel combat; the lion himself seem
@ hethef only creature unconsciou
.iiae-was ABOUT TO take place. Th
ctatorS both above and below ha
eli eyes risete,i on the iron cage. Their
0uched Nero, KING of brute creation