Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-06
A Lion Tanners Experience.


"Whie with Robinson's circus.' said
MIR. Neylan, 81 became acquainted with
J Bill Reynolds, the well-known lion perfor-
mer, and became fast favonte with him.
He was growing old and was taken III quite
frequently, thereby necessitating the with
drawal Of that feature in the entertainment.
| was In the habit OF playing with the AMI
mails outside the cage, and one day asked
Archie McCarty, the boss canvassman,
who had charge of the cage, if he would
let me 60 inside. He laughed at me, and
insinuated that / would back out mighty
quick. looked about for q cowhide, and
being unable 10 find one, substituted a
broom handle and started in. There were
two lions In the cage, and tiger, the ia
nous hon, Old Prince, the pet lioness,
Jennie. and beautiful tiger of magnificent
proportions. Old Prince was q stubborn,
bull headed creature. and meant mischief
every time. was about eixteen years of
age at this time, and was In good physical
condition. The moment l entered the
animals regarded me as an intruder, and
Old Prince commenced to assume a war
like department. l belabored him vlgor
odsly with the broom handle, maintaining
my self possession and nerve, and ere I
left the cage he was humbly submissive,
and, with the other animals, would prompt
ly do my bidding. informed the mana
ger that had found substitute for Rey
nOlds, and would produce him that night.
The cage was drawn into the ring, and
ct the appointed time appeared, greatly
10 the surprise and bewilderment es tie
manager. As l started toward the cage
he shouted: ''Come away, you fool you'll
get eaten up" But / went ON with the
performance, and the animals behaved
beautifully. AT another time Robinson
had young lion, three years of age, of
great strength and ferocious disposition.
determined to break him. and selecting an
em PITY cage with two partitions, had 1t
drawn into the woods one Sunday, ard had
a terrible encounter with him for three
hours. The enraged beast refused TO obey
the lash, and it became necessary to use
hot irons instead of rawhide. After he had
been subdued petted HIM for time and
furnished him with a substantial meal, and
we became the best of friends All the
clothing | wore at the close Of the encoun-
ter was pair of stockings and a wrlStband
to my shirt. l subsequently broke another
pair for Robinson, and had q tough tussle
with them, but nothing in comparison with
the three year old.
MIR. Neylan was asked If he had ever
found himself In extreme peril
"Well, yes" replied MIR. Neylan. ''I
was once placed in most uncomfortable
situation. JeLnIe. the pet lloness was with
young, and one day had occasion TO enter
her cage to repair it. The sound of the
hammer employed in driving nails appear
ed to frighten her, and suddenly she fas-
tened her teeth upon the calf of my leg. l
had the presence Of mind to leave her alone
although she was tearing my flesh terribly
and saizing my hammer | watched my
opportunity, when she had caught my
wrist between her teeth, and thrust the
handle down her throat, choking off her
hold. Then she sought to leap upon me,
and stripped me of my clothing, beside
leaving the bloody imprint Of her claws
upon my back. The blows of the hammer
did not seem to have any effect, aud at an
opportune moment, one of the keepers,
seeing my predicament, seized an iron bar
and belabored her vigorously, while kept
accompaniment with my hammer. We
conquered her ct last, and left the cage
to dress myself ana my wounds. She
never disturbed me again, and was always
gentle and tractable. Once, previous to
this, Jennie knocked me down, and Old
Prince evidently intended to make a meal
of me, but my good fortune and courage
did not desert me, and whipped them
both into subjection with my cowhide.
'"rhe best time to break lions, said Mr..
Neylan, 'is when they are cubs of eight to
ten months growth. My practice was To de-
vote an hour day to the tlainng always
exercising them ON empty gtomachs and
feeding them Immediately afterwsrd; If
the animal is tractable and submissive, he
should be treated kindly, but if he is IN
clined to be stubborn and ugly. then you
must obtain the mastery by vigorous use
of the cowhide. They are inclined TO be
treacherous even when the em0st froliosome
and gentle, anG it can be shown that the
majority of lion performers who have been
killed, have allowed too much liberty to
their pets. The objective point OF the
cowhide is the face and eye to blind and
confuse them, and they smart and are
forced into retirement by vigorous fiagel-
lation. 1t must not be thought for an in
slant that one can look them steadily In
the eye and thus disarm them. The lion
does become somewhat blinded by steady
gaze, but the moment he lowers hls mead
and gives it an ominuus shake, then look
out for danger, and the more promptly the
lash is applied the better. The tiger is
more treacherously inclined than the lion,
and more difficulty Is experienced In their
training. have trained Asiatic, African
and Mexican lions, and some of them have
developed remarkable power OF intelli-
gence and ssgacity.
COlOradO's Cave.