New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-17
a SCENE At THE OLD BOWEBY.


Ono of my theatrical experiences about this time
was of rather an exceptional character. party of
three IN s,ag,noH on one "ti "|h ,it '"r ,y
number of a-tiger. II occurred in this way. In
the year s3G or ls37-l cannot, at thus interval of
time. reCOlleCt which-a man ~ the name 81 ari'f
arrived in Ncw-fOfk with troupe OF Wild beasts,
which he had trained after the manner Of ' an Am.
buTgh. lie wa engaged at the BoWciy Theatre ANA
made his appearance IN piece wItt"n expressly Tor
the purpose of aiOIdng HIN AN opportunity 81 as
PLAYING the really very extraordinary mastery hr
bad obtained over the hrutr,. The play Itself " ~
utter trash. and the man no actor whatever; ne
only feature of interest being The iratN hr performed
with of the animals. Among others %" Va.
drawn across the stage in q species ui truiaphdI
car. 10 which Two hons were haruo-ecd. Highly
coorcd bills. representing han IA the set Of dong
so were posted about the STREETS. one oi these al
tractcd my attention. and hoylIkc. nothing would
satisfy ne until Was taken 10 - the piece winch
bad excited my curiosity. one night. therefore. my
father. having secured private bon. TOOK m' and
one of my schooliellOws. a lad about the same age
; myself. To the BOwcry.
Ia one scene. Carter who played the part Of
shepherd WAS supposed 10 he. hing on tlr ground
asleep. a tiger sIrlngs upon HIN iIum tree lac
gTapp,cs herccly with the brute. and after de-
perac struggle succeed, iu mastering 10. OF tour~"
performance OF this olaTacter Iu which a Wild
beast enjoys the free rang" ol 'r stage would not
any period have been permitted 900 tui- country.
nor IN all probability would % no" n' allowed ln
any American CIty hut al that time tlc auth"rtlc.
were not particular. Unfortunately, on the
night in question, Carter. in snnr Way or other
failed 10 Obtain hold of tho tiger a. usual after Il
! t''''''tf'
having lost its enc, II were ran doNu {" the foot
ghts. glarcd for moment at the audience % The
Dit, almost frightening tho Uusl, the Oit Ata
tn. out OF their senss aud then. when its master
followed and attempted 10 heDo him. rushed L. one
side of the house and began 10 climb zap into the
box in which sat. which was al Al elevation of
some eight ten feet above the stag. a scene nf
indcscribablc confusion cnsurd some women
tainted. Others shrckcd aloud and soon tho ~ hole
house as IN an nproar Both my young cOmpIn
ion and myself very much terrified. and e., Zen
my father a man OF considerable nerve. turned per
eeptibly pale. lie, however, caught up one Of tho
heavy chats on which We had been seated and stood
prepared to hull il at the tigcr IT should
reach the level OF the box. II quickly did 10 aud
with horror its head projecting over the balur-
trade when the chair descended with such force
upon its skull ~ % cause 1t To give roar of pam
and partly release it's hold. At the sane moment
Carter, who had by this time recovered his pres
OF mind, snatched up h long shepherds stan.
and with the spiked end OF IT prOddcd tbs beast -
sharply III the lower part Of the body that IL fell
back on to the stage growing with rage. Carter
then seized it by the throat. ana landing Its
struggles. dragged IT from the foOtghis. The
temper Of the brute was, however, thoroughly
reused and had IT been AL older and more powerful
animal, tbs issue might have been different. 40 II
was for few moments II was doubtful who tner
Carter would be successful III mastering It. He did
60 nevertheless aud then dragged the tiger OH the
stage and after brief interval the performance
resumed.