The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-04-17

ding; and before another month is past tn
merry bells of Cadlands are to usher in tn
happy morning.
Woman in a Cage of Panthers.
In menagerie which is kept at presen
in Philadelphia, is a cage of Mexican pan
TIERS In size they are about as large as
full-grown setter dog, though their who'll
appearance is of the cat order, having Ions
claws, sharp teeth, and eye balls which, il
their anger, CLEAN and CULVER like livid fire
"These animals" says the Philadelphia Times
'slast Saturday seemed worse than usual
They had been fighting among themselves
until their heads and ears were bleeding, and
upon the approach of any visitor near their
cage they would spring against the iron graf
ing. with cleaning eyes and exposed fangs
with force that would shake the cage from
top to bottom, at the same time thrusting
their claws through in their efforts to clutch
the intruders and bring them in range of
their teeth. Even the keepers themselves,
after they had prodded up the tigers and
leopards and passed close to their cages in
safety, made detour when they came to
the panthers, giving them wide berth.
Presently a young woman, dressed in
boomers and with her hair tightly done up
stout whip in her hand.
"'She's going in among the panthers; she's
training them,' said the keeper.
"The girl went up close to the cage, whip
in hand, and, with the assistance of the
keeper-who was her husband-the panthers
were driven back in one end Of the cage,
the man using long stick, with the end of
which he gave them some vigorous raps on
the nose. After a great deal of swapping
and scufiling among each other, they were
all gotten back in the end farthest from the
cage door. The man then proceeded to I'M
fasten it. The young woman, who had been
standing beside him with her whip in hard
and pleasant smile on her face, without
moments hesitation stepped up. and the next
moment was inside the cage. The moment
she got in there was the most terrific scream
ing and fighting of any time yet. The pam
theirs would jump over each other in their
eagerness to spring upon her, and would
spring half way up the cage, but would get no
further. being hello back by fear. They would
then spring upon one another and tear each
others ears, and scratch and fight, this being
apparently the only means that would satisfy
their ferocity. NTa
meanwhile the woman stood perfectly
still. holding her whip out and speaking to
them in a soothing manner, as though she
was pacifying favorite dog or cat. Gradu-
ally the screams and growls began to get
lower and lower and the fighting among one
another began to cease. Still they kept
growing and looking at her and showing
she had advanced STEP Then they began
to growl again, and one of them sl,rang over
the others and got nearest to her, but had no
sooner alighted than he was bounced upon
by another; and they again began to fight
Then the young woman, with bold step adj
vanced pace further and struck one of the
animals with the but end of her whip, at
the same time scolding him. He sprang back
to the end of the cage among the others,
while the woman, carelessly letting her whip
fall, proceeded to soothe and caress the pam
Their nearest her, patting him on the top of
the head and stroking him on the neck until
his growls had almost subsidized, and then sui.
lenly allowed himself to be petted, wiiiking
his eyes and mounting Ikea cat. The other
panthers meantime having grouped them
selves together in the end of the cage looked
on with sullen growls. If any advanced she
gave them sharp rap on the head
and ordered them to go back
and they obeyed. While she kept
petting the one in question she never
lost sight of the others, keeping her eyes on
their every movement and being always pre-
pared to use the whip on theslightest provo
cation. Sometimes three or four, las though jeal
Gus of the other would spring forward and
approach sullenly, as though inviting her to
caress them, too. Then she would take one to
each hand and pat and stroke them ntilthey
became pacified and quiet, and she seemed
as much at home with them as though they
were so many cats. But this pacific state
of things would not last long. They seemed
to be taking their caresses under protest and
to be ever on the brink Of a revolt This
would be signalized by deep growl from
some on OF them, which would instantly
communicate itself to the others, and the
next instant there would be quick spring
and one of the animals would find himself
bounced upon by another, and they would
claw and gnash each other until the young
woman would raise her whip and give them
some sharp blows, which would send them
into the corner and make them settle down
for a little time
"'What would be the consequence if she
was to show any fear and retreat toward the
door?' asked one of the bystanders, who had
been almost spellbound by the scene before
him, and had not found himself able to speak
before.
"'The consequence said the keeper, shak-
ing his head, would be that every animal in
that cage would spring upon her and tear
her to pieces in minute"