The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-01

tanning my self-possession and nerve
| and ere left the cage he was hu1mblv
| submissive, and with the other animals
would promptly do my bidding. I'm.
formed the manager that had found 4
substitute for Reynolds and would Dro.
duce him that night. The cage was
drawn into the ring and at the appoint
ed time appeared, greatly to the sur
prise and bewilderment of the manager.
.As started toward the cage he shouted:
"COme back, you fool, you'll get eaten
up" But went on with the perform
ancc, and the animals behaved beauti-
fully. At another time Robinson had q
young lion, three years of age, of great
strength and feroci0us disposition. /
determined to break him, and selecting
an empty cage with two partitions.
had it drawn into the woods one Sunday
and had a terrible encounter with him,
for three hours. The enraged beast re-
fused to obey the lash, and it became
necessary to use hot irons instead OF
rawhi.le. After he had been subdued l
petted him for time and furnished him
with substantial meal, and we became
the best Of friends. All the clothing I
wore at the close Of the encounter was a
pair Of stockings and Y wristband to my
shirt. | subsequently broke another
pair for Robinson, and had q tough tus-
sle with them. but nothing in comnari-
son with the three-year-Old."
Mr.. Neylan was asked If he ever
found himself in extreme peril.
"Wsll, yes" replied Mr.. Neylan, II
was placed In . most uncomfortable sit
uati0n. Jennie, the pet lioness, was
with young. and one day had occasion
to enter her cage to repair it. The sound
Of the hammer employed In driving
denly she fastened her teeth upon the
mind to let her alone, although she was
tearing my flesh terribly, and seixing
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 besides leaving the
bloody imprint Of her claws upon my
hack. The blows Of the hammer did
not seem to have any effect, and at IN
Opportunc moment, one Of the keepers,
seeing my predicament, seized an iron
bar and belatOred her vigorously, while
l kept accompaniment with my hmm
mer. We conquered her ut last, and l
lett the cage to dress myself aud my
wounds. Sne never disturbed me again
and was always gentle and tractable.
Once, previous to this Jennie knocked
me down, and Old Prince evidently in
tended to make meal Of me, hat my
good fortune and courage did not desert
me, and / whipped them both into sub
lection with my cOWhi(le.
1.-THE hest time to begin to break
lions" said Mr.. Neylan, lis when they
are cubs Of eight to ten months growth.
NV practice was to devote an hour y day
in the training, always exercising them
on empty stonlacls and feeding them inn
metliate1y aftcrward If the animal II
tractable and submissive, he should be
: treated kindly, but If he Is inclined to
he stubborn and ugly, then you must
obtain the mastery by vigorous use III
the cowhide. They are inclined to be
treacher0us even when the most fr0lic
some and gentle, and 1t can Ike shown
that the majority of lion performer
who have been killed have allowed tor
much liberty to their pets. The object
! i've point OF the cOwllille is the face and
e. Z to blind and confuse them, and they
/. smart and are forced into retirement b,
! u vigorous tlagellation. 1t must not b.
thought for IN instant that one can loOi
them steadily in the eye and thus dis
arm them. The lion does become some
what blinded by steady gaze, but tn
moment he lowers his head and gives ]
: an onlinous shake, then look for danger
aud the more promptly the lasll is ap
Piled the better. The tiger is NOR
ireacherously inclined than thd lion
and more difficulty is experienced u
; their training. ! have train,s! .As'atl''
/; African and Mexican lions, and SOM
Of then, have developed ren'arkan'
F.: power ~ intelligence and sar"'lty.
7. Iu,rrr;,u. IL I;wr;,lrm1 J""r"'|.