Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-09
THE TIGER-WHACKER.
WHAT lie HAS TO Do AND WHAT HE GETS
FOR IT.

One of the editors of the Atlanta COnsti-
tuition. visiting New York, was taken be-
hind the scenes to see the manner of pro-
ducing the BLACK Venus" at Niblo's, and
saw many curious things. After describ-
ing some of them he goes on to say -
One Of the features of the great Black
Venus is a den of royal Bengal Tigers, in
to which the dusky queen is going to
throw her truant English lover. She
sends the keeper into the cage TO stir the
animals to rage. and. while he is engaged
in this work. a distant volcano erupts. and
in the blaze OF its light the curtain falls.
| was standing Immediately by the cage
of tigers when the trainer entered il.
The tigers were the largest ever displayed
in New York-enormous. supple. glisten-
ing. As the man entered the cage quick
". he closed the door behind him. without
taking his eyes from the animals. They
retreated with snarls and growls. to the
further end Of the cage. He advanced
rapidly on them. striking them sharply.
firing his pistol in their faces. and driving
them before him. The largest one. SUI
perb animal, moving slowly. was corn
cred. and rs the keeper dashed him, he
only crouched the closer to the wall, flat
tening himself against the bars. and glar-
ing at the man with eyes halt shut. as il
he were about to spring upon his torment
or, felt the marrow chill i'm my bones
If the man had quivered in the slightest
If he had but let his eye-lid falter-I be-
lieve the tiger would have been on him in
an instant. C-z-z-a-sh! down came the
whip over the tigers face. A hoarse
growl of rage and pain was the answer
and the face of the animal was like that
of demon. Crash, crash, came the
whip pitilessly. the man standing with lips
closed and face set. his left arm guarding
his breast. and the right raising the lash
over the tigers head. Suddenly the tiger
raised his huge paw, rs if about to strike
back. its teeth flashed behind its red lips,
when, with look of disdain. it slid easily
from the bars aud swept past the keeper
TO the other end of the cage.
THAT tiger will kill that man yet?"
said one of the stage men. land he knows
itr
lie knows it p" 1 asked curiously.
"Yes." replied the attendant. Il bunk
wit the trainer. and he tells me often that
that big tiger hates him. and will mount
him some time. He has already gashed
him up several times
"Why does he keep fooling with him
then?'
.'Oh! it's his business. They all ge,
killed some time or other. II is the rarest
thing in the world TO see an old trainer
They all get chawed up some time or 9th.
err"
just then the trainer passed, and with a
troubled face said to his friend -
He was pretty ugly tonight, wasn't he I?
I'm going to punish him when | get him
down stairs"
turned to Faxon and asked him.
What does the man get for his work ?"
WELL" said DIR. Gray. '.if you were to
pay . million dollars a minute you
couldn't get me to earn \ cent at it,
.What does the tiger man get?" asked
EAxou. turning to An attendant.
1.-TWO dollars and = half = week and his
board. = replied the man.
.sWhat . his names'' I asked.
hot man o. tho stAge could tell. He
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