The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-08

ror OF a whole MenaRerie.
The value of GOODNESS and presence of
mind was strikingly illustrated at
Cooper Il Bailey's stables, Philadelphia,
where the great London circus was in
quarters. In the main building, where
most all the animals of the menagerie
are kept, was cage containing five or
six full-grown Mexican panthers, whose
fierce aspect and savage capers are the
terror of all who pass through there.
Directly opposite these panthers there is
a cage containing lions, and on either
side of them are cages containing tigers
and leopards. Savage as the tigers and
leopards appear, there Is not half the
terror In them for the keepers that there
is in the long, stealthy, cat like animal,
the Mexican panther. In size they are
about rs large as full-grown setter
dog, though their whole appearance is
of the cat order, having long claws.
sharp teeth, and eye-balls which, in
their anger, CLEAN and culver like livid
fire. These animals at Cooper II
Bailey's, on the day in question, seemed
worse than usual. They had been fight
ing 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 within range of their
teeth. To stand off and look at them
would provoke them almost to mad
ness. They would bound against the
grating with loud and savage scream,
and strike and tear at the iron rods with
their claws in q way that would make
the stoutest-hearted visitor fall back
and almost shudder to think of the con-
sequences should they by any mischance
once get at large. Even the keepers
themselves, after they had prodded up
the tigers and leopards ard passed close
to their cages in safety, made detour
when they came to the panthers, giving
them a wide berth. Presently young
woman, dressed in bloomers and with
her hair tightly done up on the top of
her head, came along, with stout whip
in her hand.
"See," said one of the keepers, she's
going into the cage"
"WhatP" exclaimed three or four
different voices, amazed.
"She's going in among the panthers !;
she's training Them said the keeper.
"Surely she won't go in among them
as they are now?" said one, while others
fell back still further and some hastened
away.
Meantime, the girl had gone up close
to the cage, whip in hand, and, with
the assistance OF the keeper-who was
also her husband-the -panthers were
driven back in one end of the cage,
end of which he gave them some vigor-
Gus raps on the nose. After great deal
of swapping and scuf1iing among each
other-each animal, every time he was
hit, seeming to visit his vengeance for
tue blow on his nearest fellow-they
were all gotten back in the end furthest
from the cage door. The man then pro-
cceded to unfasten it, his work being in
terrupted frequently by the animals,
some of which would now and then
bound out of their corner over the backs
of those of their fellows who stood in
the way and land halfway up the floor
of the cage, where they would draw
themselves up in crouching posture,
and with eyes of fire and a deep, low
whine or growl they would remain
watching him as though only waiting
for him to get inside to make the fatal
spring. The keeper, without showing
the least discomposure, went on with
his work until the door was opened.
The young woman, who had been stand
ing beside him with her whip in hand
and pleasant smile on her face, with
out moments hesitation stepped up
and the next moment was inside the
cage. The moment she got in there was
the most terrific screaming and fighting
of any time yet. The panthers would
jump over each other in their eagerness
to spring upon her, and would spring
hallway up the cage, but would
get no further, being held 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. Mean
time the woman stood perfectly still,
holding her whip out and speaking to
them in q soothing manner, as though
she was pacifying a favorite dog or cat
Gradually the screams and growls be.
gan to get lower and lower and the fight
ing among one another began to cease
Still they kept growing and looking al
her and showing their teeth and snap
ping now and then until she had ad.
vanced a step. Then they began to
growl again, and one of them spranl
over the others and got nearest to her
but had no sooner ahghted than he wa.
pounced upon by another, and they agair
began to fight. Then the young woman
with a bold step, advanced a pace fur
ther and struck one of the animals will
the but end of her whip, at the sam,
time scolding him. He sprang back t.
the end of the cage among the others
| while the woman carelesslV letting no
whip tall in harmless position, pro
ceeded to soothe and caress the panthe
nearest her, pattlrg him upon the top O
the head and stroking him on the bacl
until his growls h I'd almost subsidized
and he sullenly allowed himself to b
petted, winking his eyes and mouthin
like cat, the other panthers meantim
having grouped themselves together il
the end of the cage looked on with sui
len growls. If any advanced she CAV
them a sharp rap on the head and or
dered them to go back, an they obeyed
While she kept petting the one in ques
tion she never lost sight of the others
keeping her eyes ON their every move
ment and being always prepared to us
the whip on the slightest provocation
Sometimes three or four, as thoug
jealous of the other, would spring toi
ward and approach sullenly, as thoug
inviting her to caress them, too The
she would take one to each hand and pa
and stroke them until they became pac
fed and quiet, and she seemed as muc
at home with them as though they wer
so many cats. But this pacific state {
things would not last long. They SCENE
to be taking their caresses under protes
| and IN ha ever On tho hrink Of a rauol