The St. Johns herald., 1886-07-01
soxE LION AND TIGER STORIES.
Good Beading for the Roys of ths
 Household.

IFOod Leading Tor the HoyS or thk
 Household.
 Herr Driesbach's life was full of re markable incidents and he frequently took pleasure in relating events ot his life. The following is in his OWL words:
 "I Twas exhibiting fin the city of Balti more. We were playing piece in which one of my tigers was to sud. denly leap from above me, as if to kill me. After it would jump on me we would roll around on the floor, to all appearances engaged in mortal combat
 The theatre in which we were play. ing had large pit, and it was filled almost to suffocation that evening with boys and men. This time the tiger jumped over my head and was flying for the pit when I caught him by the tail and hauled him back.
 "I needn't tell you that standing room was made mighty quick in that pit when they saw the animal coming. They rushed out pell-mell, yelling and screaming for me to hold on to him."
 When Edwin Forrest was playing at the old Bowery Theatre in New York City, his piece was followed by an exhibition of lions by their trainer, Herr Driesbach.
 During their stay there Forrest re- marked one day that he had never ex- perienced the emotion caused by fright that he was never scared in his life.
 Driesbach heard the remark and one evening took Forrest home with him. They entered a house and after pass ing through long and devious dark passages, Driesbach opened Q door and said:
 "This way, Mir. Forrest"
 l" As Forrest entered the door was damned behind him. Forrest felt iomething touch his leg in the dark
 ess and reaching down his hand ouched what he thought was a cats ack, wh oh he gently stroked. A
 lsping growl greeted the motion and he INV two fiery eyeballs glaring at him.
 " Are you afraid. NIT. FoSrest?" asked he lion-tamer, who was invisible in the arkness.
 Forrest replied, Not bit" when he lion-tamer said something and the rowl deepened and the back began to rch Forrest held out for few minutes, ,hen he exclaimed:
 |" Now let me out, you scoundrel, r I'll break every bone in your body"
 The Lion King kept him there and le did not dare to move finger, while
 @ lion kept rubbing against his leg.
 Forrest finally promised champagne upper If Driesbach would let him out, which wa done and the bet was imme- liately paid.
 The Lion King was to some extent a practical joker.
 On one occasion when he was exhib- ting in New York, he had entered a len of animals, and was going through he customary performance one Satur- .ay night when he was suddenly .tretched on his back and large Brazilian tiger was on his throat and ne other animals were wildly dashing about the cage.
 Driesbach's voice was heard calling for aid in a hoarse manner. The au- lience became excited and women 5hrieked. Several keepers ran to the prostrate lion-tamers aid, and he was dragged from the cage.
 He came from behind the cage with his face and tights covered with crimson liquid like blood. He was hastily taken upstairs where a physician. who was conveniently near, examined him and odA0 tLldb ScIIOuSlH the lion-tamer would live.
 The next day Driesbach appeared on the streets with hi face covered with strips of court plaster and his arm in a sling. His friends were greatly excited over his escape, but their sympathy turne1 to disgust when they learned that the sore on the lion-tamer's face had been squeezed from a sponge filled with rose pink, and that the affair was an advertising dodge arranged by the man. g. ement of the menagerie.
 While travelling along the Ohio River one season Herr Driesbach was wanted in Cincinnati to give an exhibition at the old Woods Theatre.
 He was showing in Zanesville when he received a flattering offer by tele- graph, and he accepted. Hastily caging a tiger in an ordinary store box he pro- ceeded to the Ohio River and started for Cincinnati by boat.
 He registered himself as Herr Dries bach and the tiger as Colonel Alex ander."
 No one save the captain of the boat knew who "Colonel Alexander was, he was assigned to Driesbachs room in the boat.
 After the boat put of. the passengers became jolly from frequent centre shots on a black bottle. It was decided to visit Driesbach's room and ascertain If he had anything good. The lion- tamer assented, and taking his com panions thither opened the door for them. 4 bottle was found, and Dries- bach excused himself to get pitcher of water.
 The tiger was not visible when the crowd entered the room, having crawled under a bunk to which he was chained, ss his tanner had removed him from the store box.
 Presently those inside the room heard B scratching and growing and Colonel Alexander emerged from under the bunk and prepared to leap. The crowd rushed headlong for the door, through which they scra nbled in their hurry to leave the room.
 Driesbach met them outside and laughed heartily at their fright. and taking the tigers chain led him around the boat for passengers to fondle.