The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-30
THE DOG LION FIGHT.

known in Great Britain 1t was with a
view of getting money by bringing his
lions more into public notice, that the
proprietor, in the year 1895, spread wide
ly the report that he had matched his
largest lion to fight with six dogs of the
bull and mastiff breed, for stake of five
Thousand pounds. This report created a
sensation of no common Underwriting
the Indignation of the humane, and pan
dering to the barbarlty of the cruel. The
sport,ng-classes were in fever and the
dog lighting world rabid with anticipa-
ton. The press was loud in its denuncia-
tions of q spectacle so inhuman; but COW
etoasness is cruel, and Wombwell was
not TO be persuaded to abandon the gold
en- harvest he hoped to reap.
It had been more than two centuries
since ion-fght had taken place IN En-
gland; the encounter in the reign of
James l. when mastiffs were matched
against lion for the entertainment of
the court, having been the last exhibit
ton of this kind. Some naturalists there
were who altogether lost sight of the in
humanity Of the spectacle, in the ardor
OF their desire to know the relative degree
OF superiority possessed by the lion over
the mastlff and bulldog.
The most celebrated of Wombwell's
lions was Nero, a tame and inofensive
creature, though Of great stature and
majestic appearance; and it was this ami
NAL that was reported to have been
matched by Wombwell against the six
dogs. He was whelped in the capital Of
Scotland, and had been brought up as
tame as lap-dog. Wallace, another of
Wombwell's lions, was smaller but a
much more savage and formidable ami
NAL.
By many it was supposed that the re-
ported bet of five thousand pounds, said
to have been made by Wombwell, was a
fabrication, and little doubt of this was
afterwards entertained. As the day of
the fight approached, public excitement
became extreme, humanity was more ur-
gent in its appeal, and indignation louder
in its thunders. Private individuals used
their influence to dissuade Wombwell
from his purpose, and the press redoubled
its Importantly and condemnation; but
the lion owner was Obdurate to entreatv
and reproach.
The place fixed, upon for the fight was
a hollow square enclosure in the suburbs
Of Warwick, on the road to Northampton
called ''the Old Factory Yard" Two
sides Of this hollow square were occupied
by the empty workshops Of the old facto-
ry, many stories high, the windows of
which were atted up and furnished with
seats, and the other two sides were filled
up with caravans Of wild beasts. The
cage, formed Of iron bars, in which the
combat was to take place, stood in the
middle Of the enclosure. It was about
fifteen feet square, and ten high, with
room between the bars for the dogs to run
in and out, while the floor of it was eleva-
ted as much as four or five feet from the
ground.
Wombwell's expectations of profit must
have been unreasonable, for the charges
at first demanded were: half guinea for
standing places; seats at remote windows,
guinea; fourth-hoor seats, two guineas
and seats on the first, second and third
floors, three guineas each. These prices,
however could not be sustained. Wheth-
er it was that the disgust which the an
nouneement Of the fight had called forth,
or some other cause, had operated to pre-
vent many from being present who would
willingl have attended, certain it is that
the gathering fell far short of what had
been anticipated. Too many there were
present, but not enough to be an encour-
agement to so barbarous an enterprise.
A fit sort Of prelude to the inhuman
spectacle which was to take place occur
cd on the night before the combat, for
eight dogs intended to be opposed to the
hon, having been placed together by
their brutal guardian, instead of being
kept asunder, their natural ferocity pro-
duced general fight, in which one doc
was killed outright, and another lost an
ear and part of his cheek. Their keep
er said it was not his fault, but the dogs
for ''they didn't ought to quarrel" being
'1all on the same side"
During the morning of the day on
which the combat was to take place, the
, dogs that were to fight were made show
Of at the "Green Dragon" at an admit
lance of sixpence. In the caravans round
the yard, besides the lion Nero, the hero
Of the day. were three other lions, lion
ess, she-wolf with cubs, two leopards
with cubs, white bear, a hyena, two re-
bras, wild asses, monkeys, and multi
tude of other creatures. Nero lay quiet
in his caravan, looking unconccrn-
eddy at the preparations making
for his own annoyance.
| Wombwell's trumpeters, arrayed in
gaudy colors and mounted on horses
were sent forth through the streets of
Warwick, bennington, and the villages
near, to announce the coming fight. Sew
en- o'clock IL the evening was the hour
fixed on for the commencement of the
combat. Accommodation was made for q
thousand people to witness the fight, and
about five hundred attended The money
taken may be roundly stated to be foul
hundred pounds, and the expenses were
about one hundred. The three hundred
pounds profit were but miserable in.
demnity for SO much inhumanity, sin and
DISGRACE.
Of the six dogs which were to fight
Turk and Tiger were brown; Captain, fall
low and white; Rose, skewbald; Nettie
brindled, with black head and Nelson