Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-04-08
LION AND TIGER STORIES.

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
Il was exhibiting in the city Of Balti
more. We were playing piece in
which one of my tigers was 90 suddenly
leap from above upon me as if to Lll
me After it would jump onto me we
would roll around on the floor, to all
appearances engaged in mortal combat.
The theatre in which we were playing
had a large pit, and it was filed almost
TO suilocauon that evening with boys
and men. This time the tiger jumped
over my head and was flying Tor the pit
when | caught him by the tail and haul
ed him back. / 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
10 him.
While Edwin Forrest was playing at
the old Bowery Theatre in New York
City his piece was followed by an eNhi-
bition of lions by their trainer, Herr
Driesbach. During their stay there
Forrest remarked one day that he, had
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 the 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 reach
ing down his hand touched what he
thought was n cats back, which he
gently stroked. A rasping growl greet
ed the motion and he saw two fiery eye
balls glaring ut him. "Are you afraid,
Mr. Forest" asked the lion-tamer, who
was invisible i'm the darkness. Forrest
replied, "Not n bit, when the lion
tanner said something and the growl
deepencd and the back began 10 arch.
Forrest held ont for q few minutes, when
he exclaimed Now let me out, you in
fernal scoundrel, or TN break every
bone in your body" The lion kept him
there and he did not dare to move a
finger. while the lion kept rubbing
against his LEG. Forrest finally prom
ised a champagne supper if Dricsbach
would let him out which was done and
the bet Immediately paid
The Lion King was to some extent a
practical joker On one occasion when
he was exhibiting in Broadway. New
York he had entered den Of animals,
and was going through the customary
performance one Saturday night, when
he was suddenly stretched upon his back
and a large Brazilian tiger vas on his
throat, and the other animals were
wildly dashing about the cage. Dries
bach voice was heard calling for aid
in hoarse manner The audience be-
came excited and women shrieked.
Several keepers ran TO the PROSTATE
lioutamer's aid, and he was dragged
from the cage. He came from behind
the cage with his face and tights cover
ed with crimson liquid like blood. He
was hastily taken up stuirs where a
physician, who was conveniently near,
examined him and said that, although
seriously injured, the lion-tamer would
live. The next day Driesbach appeared
on the streets with his face covered Will
strips of court plaster and his arm in q
sling. His friends were greatly excited
over his escape, but their sympathy
turned to disgust when they learned
that the gore on the CONTAINERS face
had been squeezed from a sponge filled
with rose pink, and that the affair was
an advertising dodge arranged by the
management 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 show
ing in GAINESVILLE when he received a
Aattering offer by telegraph, and he ac-
cepted. Hastily eaging tiger in an
ordinary store box he proceeded to the
Ohio River and started for Cincinnati
by boat. He registered himself as Herr
Driesbach and the tiger as Colonel
Alexander. No one save the captain
of the boat knew who Colonel Alexan-
der" was, although he was assigned to
Driesbach' S room in the boat. After the
boat put off the passengers became Jolly
lIbul iItqNtNL tCllltl hibLo VII ~ bihNh
bottle. II was decided 20 visit Dries
bach's room and ascertain if he had
anything good The lion-tamer as
scnted, and taking his companions
thither opened the door for them. a
bottle was found, and Driesbach excused
himself to get a pitcher of water. The
tiger was not visible when the crowd
entered the room, having crawled under
a bunk to which he was chained, as his
tanner had removed him from the store
box. Presently those inside the room
heard a scratching and growing and
Colonel Alexander emerged from I'M
der the bunk and prepared to leap The
crowd rushed headlong for the door,
through which they scrambled 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 pas
sengers to fond'e. -Pittsjtry Dispatch
The Pictured Rocks OF Virginia.