Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-08-11
Lion-Tamers' Romances.

A1Ou- - dIuGTS 6OOu1duC0Ss
1t has been said that he must have
been a brave man who first vcntured to
eat an oyster; certainly a bolder man
must he have been who first undertook
the task of tanning a lion, says the Chi
cago Inter Ocean. History assures us
that HannO, the Carthagenian general
was the first to cultivate familiar ac-
quaintance with the liking Of beasts. -
But the first public exhibition of trained
lions was given by Mark Antony, who
with lady by his side, drove a pair of
tame lions harnessed to his car around
the arena of the amphitheatcr at Rome.
The first travelling menagerie was that
of Wombwell. whose name was house
hold word in Europe for half century
or more. This man was originally cob
bier, who began his showman's career by
exhibiting large snake which he had
purchased. He formed his menagerie
about 1905. It's success brought two
other notable collections into the field
during the next ten years-those of At
kins and Ballard and in time several
others.
When Billiards. caravan was near Sails
bury, in October, 1916, a lioness escaped
from her cage. \ not unusual occurrence
this in menagerie history; but this partic-
ular beast rendered herself immortal by
attacking the Exeter mail coach. This
coach had stopped at an inn near by to
deliver its bag of letters, when the lion
ess sprang upon one of the leaders. The
horses all plunged violently; and, as it
was after dark, the terror and confusion
that followed were tremendous When
lamps had been brought and the nature
of the attacking animal was perceived,
this terror was not lessened. Dogs were
set upon the lioncss, which left the horses
to fight them; and, after killing several,
took refuge under granary, whence she
was coaxed without difficulty when her
keeper came, and restored to her cage.
A picture representing the thrilling Incl
dent is still TO be seen at the inn before
which it occurred, known as Winterslow
hut, seven miles from the city of Sails
bury.
Wombwell had two famous lions,
known as Nero and Wallace Nero was
much the older, and as amiable and as
tame as any dog could be- In July,
1925, bet between two sporting gentle
men concerning the fighting qualities of
old Nero caused Wombwell to advertise
fight between this lion and six bull
dogs, who were to attack the ''king of
beasts" in heats of three. The show
g took, and though the prices of admis-
sion ranged from one TO five guineas,
every seat in the menagerie was taken,
and hundreds could not gain admission.
But it proved perfect ''sell" because of
the amiability of the lion. Sometimes he
would roll dog over and scratch him a
little, and the dogs would rush at him
as though they would make him fight,
but 1t was no use, and at last the pa
thence of the audience was worn out, and
they went off in disgust. The excuse
Mr.. Wombwell made was We can't
make them fight. can we, if they won't"
But there was such general feeling of
indignation over the matter that the
manager arranged a second encounter, In
which the young lion, Wallace was sub
stituted for the old one The results
were quite different. Every dog that
faced the lion was killed or terribly
mangled, the last being carried about in
w dlidIC uiOutu DIS a TAT 10y a L6iIACI anu
literally shaken to death.
Wombwell brought forward the first
professional lion tanner on record, known
as Manchester Jack. This mans perform
ance antedated those of Van Amburgh
by but few years, and there is no doubt
that some of his best tricks were copied
from those of the latter. There was
naturally much rivalry between the two
lion kings when Van Amburgh brought
his trained lions, tigers and leopards to
England in 1886, and the assertion has
been made that Jack dared the other to
trial of skill and courage with his
beats at Southampton and that the con-
test did not come off, owing to Van Am
burgh showing the white feather. But
the story is quite improbable, for the
daring of the latter performer has never
Deem surpassed.
Lion-tamers are usually killed dozen
times or more during their careers. and
yet, after all, they die in their beds in
about the same proportion as other men.
For instance, Manchester Jack was re-
ported by the newspapers as having come
to his end In various ways once after the
following unenviable fashion: He was
said to have been exhibiting the feat,
which Van Amburgh originated, of put
ting his head in the lions mouth. and TO