Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-03-18

some Lion and triger stS<s..
Taken from an unpublished MO-,
Herr Drieseaeh, by The Pitfsr.
patch
Herr Driesbach's life was snr
markable incidents and he f@reons.
took pleasure in relating events 3
life. The following ism his own ~.
al was exhibiting in the CITY :, 5
timore. We we're playing a n;s1s
which one of my tigers was tn - I,
ly leap from above upon me. - !
Kill me. After it would INN.
me we would roll around on tbs a. u
to all appearances engaged in moss
combat. The theatre In wh;eS
were playing had a large pis
was filed almost to suffosat;on -
evening with boys and men T n.y.
time the tiger jumped over INV -
and was flying for the pit 80
caught him by thetail andhau,sS
back. / needn't tell you that stssn
ing room was made mighty on;ces
that pit when they saw the an;sss
coming. They rushed out peT-ss5s
yelling and screaming for ME to ~
on to him"
When Edwin Forrest was ni.-.
at the old Bowery Theatr, n I
York City, his piece was followed g
an exhibition OF lions by their srsing
Herr Driesbach. During their ..
there Forrest remarked one dav ~.
he had never experienced the ernot;s-
caused by fright-that he was nsss.
scared in his life. Drieshach heay5.k.
remark and one evening took For
home with him. They entered q boss.
and after passing through long an5
devious dark passages, DriesbaS
opened a door and said. This wa
Mr.. Forrest" As Forrest entereasI Il,
door was slammed behind him. IA,
rest felt something touch his leo in i.
darkness and reaching down his 49,
touched what he thought was a cafss
back, which he gently stroked. n
rasping growl greeted the motion ana
he saw two frey eyeballs glarne -
him. "Are you afraid, Mr.. Forrestss
asked the lion-trainer, who was ipv,s
ible in the darkness. Forrest repliaa
"Not a Bit" when the lion tam,
said something and the growl dsenen.
ed and the back began to arch. For
rest held out for a few minutes, whs,
he exclaimed: Now let me out. Won
internal scoundrel, or I'll break ever
bone in your body" The Lion KIM
kept him there and he did not dare "a
move a finger, while the lion kenk
rubbing against his legs. Forrss
finally promised a champagne suppr
ii Driesbach would let him out, whsch
was done and the bet was immedistA
ly paid.
The Lion King was to some extent
q practical joker. On one occasion
when he was exhibiting in Broadwsy.
New York, he hadentered a den ofac5
mails, and was going through the GU.
tomary performance one SATURDAY.
night when he was suddenly stretched
upon his back and a large Braliliaa
tiger was on his throat and the othr
animals we're wildly dashing about
the cage Driesbach's voice wa
heard calling for aid in a hoarse mar
ner. The audience became excita
and women shrieked. Several keepes
ran to the PROSTATE lion-tamers aid
and he was dragged from the cage. lie
came from behind the cage with his
face and tights covered with crimson
LIQUID like blood. He was hastily
taken upstairs where a physic:sa,
who was conveniently near. examined
him and said that although seriously
injured, the lion-tamer would live
next day Driesbach appeared on The
streets with his face covered with,
strips OF court plaster and his arm u
a sling. His friends were greatly e.
cited over his escape, but their sympsr
thy turned to disgust when tksy
learned that the gore on the lise
tanners face had been squeezed fromk.
sponge filled with rose pink, and tkss
the affair was an advertising dode
arranged by the management ofsAs
menagerie.
While travelinga along the Ohio Rive
one season Herr Driesbach was want
ed in Cincinnati to give an exhibits
at the old Woods Theatre. he wa'
showing in GAINESVILLE when he received
a ~flattering offer by telegraph, and b
accepted. Hastily caginga tiger IN az
ordinary store box he proceeded Is
the Ohio River and started for Cncn
natl by boat. He registered as Hr
Driesbach and the tiger as 'Colond
Alexander" No onesave the captain
of the boat knew who "Colonel AIer
ander" was, although he IA assisn1
to Driesbach's room in the bost
After the boat put of, the passenssa
became jolly from frequent eentls
shots on n black bottle. 1t wa d..
cided to visit Driesbach's oom ad
ascertain if he had anythinggood. Ih
lion.tamer assented, and taking b.
companions thither opened the doH
for them. A bottle vas found and
Driesbach, excused himself to get 4
pitcher of water. The tiger was not
visible when the crowd entered ts
room, having crawled under a bunf
to which he was chained, as his tamd
had removed him from the store boz.
Presently those insidet the room hcazd
a scratching and growing and 'CdE
onel Alexander" emerged from unda
the bunk and prepared to leap. Th
crowd rushed headlong for the deof
through which they scrambled 70
their hurry to leave the room. Drie
bach met them outside and LAUGHED
heartily at their fright and takingtk
firor'c chain IaJ hin, ororud the bfff