Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-01
TIGER TALES.
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A LION
KING.
Extracts from the Biography of the Fa'
nous Herr Driesbach.


nous Herr Driesbach.
Herr Driesbach's life was full OF re-
markable incidents, and he frequently
took pleasure in relating events of his
life. The following is in his own words:
81 was exhibiting in the city OF Balti-
more. We were playing a piece in
which one OF my tigers was to suddenly
leap from above upon me, as if to kill
me. After it would jump on to me we
would roll around on the floor, to all
appearances engaged in mortal compat.
The theater in which we were playing
had large pit and it was filled almost
to sufIocation that evening with boys
and men. This time the tiger jumped
over my head and was flying for the pit
when | caught him by the tail and
hauled him back. / needn't tell you
that standing room was made mighty
quick in that pit when they saw the ami
NAL coming. They rushed out pell-
nell, yelling and screaming for me to
hold on to him."
When Edwin Forrest was playing al
the old Bowery theater in New York
city, his piece was followed by an exhi-
bition Of lions by their trainer, Herr
DrIesbach. During their stay there,
Forrest remarked one day that he never
experienced 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
passing through long and devious dark
passages, Driesbach opened door and
said: "This way, Mr.. Forrest" AS
Forrest entered the door was slammed
behind him. Forrest felt something
touch his leg in the darkness, and
reaching down his hand touched what
he thought was a cats back, which he
gently stroked. A rasping growl greet
ed the motion and he saw two fiery eye.
balls glaring at him. care you afraid
Mr.. Forrest?" asked the lion tanner,
who was invisible in the darkness. For
rest replied, "Not a bit," when the
lion tanner, said something and the
growl deepened and the back began tc
arch. Forrest held out for few min
utes, when he exclaimed: ''Now let
me out, you internal scoundrel, or I'll
break every bone in your body" The
lion king khpt him there and he did
not dare to move finger, while the lion
kept rubbing against his leg. Forrest
finally promised a champagne supper il
Driesbach would let him out, which
was done and the bet was Immediately
paid.
The lion king was to some extent c
practical joker. On one occasion, wher
he was exhibiting in Broadway, New
York, he had entered a den of animals
and was going through the customary
performance one Saturday night, wher
he was suddenly stretched upon his
back and large Brazilian tiger was OF
his throat and the other animals were
wildly dashing about the cage. Dries
bach's voice was heard calling for aid il
a hoarse manner. The adience became
excited and the women shrieked. Sew
eral keepers ran to the PROSTATE lior
tamer's aid, and he was dragged from
the cage. He came from behind tht
cage with his face and tights covered
with d crimson liquid like blood III,
was hastily taken upstairs where phys
ician, who was conveniently near, ex
amined him and said that although Sc
riously injured the lion tanner woult
live. The next day Driesbach appeared
on the streets with his face covered will
strips of court plaster and his arm in
sling. His friends were greatly exciteC
over his escape, but their sympath,
turned to disgust when they learned
that the gore on the lion-tamer's fac
had been squeezed from a sponge filleC
with rose pink, and that the affair wa
an advertising dodge arranged by tht
manager of the menagerie.
While travelling along the Ohio rive
one season, Herr Driesbach was wanted
in Cincinnati to give an exhibition a
the old Woods theater. He was show
ing in GAINESVILLE when he received
hatterlng offer by telegraph, and he ac
cepted. Hastily caging tiger in al
ordinary store box, he proceeded to thu
Ohio river and started for Cincinnati b.
boat. He registered himself as Herr
Driesbach and the tiger as "Col Alex
ander." No one save the captain c
the boat knew who "Col. Alexander
was, although he was assigned t.
Driesbach's room in the boat. Afte
the boat put off, the passengers becam
jolly fromsfrequent center shots on
black bottle 1t was decided to visi
Driesback's room and ascertain If b
had anything good. The lion-tame
assented, and taking his companion
thither, opened the door for them. !
bottle was found, and Driesbach e1
cused himself to get a pitcher of water
The tiger was not visible when tn
crowed entered the room, havin
crawled under bunk to which he wa
chained, as the tanner had removed hir
from the store box. Presently thos
inside the room heard a scratching an
growing and "Col. Alexander" emere
ed from under the bunk and prepare
to leap. The crowd rushed headlon
for the door, through which the
scrambled in their hurry to leave I'll
room. Driesbach met them outsid
and laughed heartily at their fright. an