Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-10
TANNING WILD BEASTS.
How Lions, Tigers ana Other Tero-
cious Animals Are Taught To Obey
Their Keepers.


cious Animals Are Taught To Obey
Their Keepers.
New Haven Conn NJ correspondent OF
TIE 81. Louis Globe Democrat writes Some
OF the beasts that are to take the place Of
those recently DESTROYED In the burning OF
Barnum's circus quarters at bridgeport have
arrived, and others are expected on the
steamer Ludgate I'm. That the new lot
may become tractable aud sufficiently tanned
for keepers 10 enter the dens and brave the
fierce animals season of training Is about
TO be entered upon. Next season numerous
dens of these wild beasts will be- totcd across
the country to instruct the lovers Of natural
history. To the tim III beholder the daring
act of riding through the streets Gagged up in
a Hons den is blood -curdllng. The spangled
keeper In lions den and the imitation In.
dian In den OF wolves are the heroes Of the
hour, but could the timd spectator know that
there was really no actual danger the process
sion would be devoid Of It's sanguinary allure
ments. The training is simple, persistent
aud effective. The king of beasts when con =
quered Is like lamb and the Young Ions are
tanned one at a time.
For several days The animal Is we'll fed He
Is tempted 10 thrust his fore paw out in front
VI Tue Ntll ''NcI ltlflll IS rlllltu moose, ana
the feet are then firmly tied down. The lion
AT once begins 10 roar aud thrash his tail and
hind legs about the cage. After "A time he
quicts down ana the keeper enters the den.
with a deXterous movement "A bag il drawn
down over the Hons head. The keeper some.
times be,tridcs his back and holds his seat by
tightening his lcgs around the body and
grasping the main ~ the animal In the head
covering Is sponge, saturated wW about ;
ounces OF chloroforru. The lion viii try TO
.ital- ,.fff l. b,.t
fore paws are tied down. In moment or two
the beast becomes unconscious. Other train
ers then enter the dcn, Great attention and
care is exercised over the pulsations OF the
lions heart. The Pulse IS felt under the lower
jaw the same as In "A horse. IL r. dangerous
10 ether ze or chloroform an animal Of the cat
species too severely, and the instant the pull
sstons become at all feeble the dose has 10 be
hghtenel.
When the keeper becomes satisfied that the
animal Is unconscious, they tegin operations
upon his teeth. The canine, lrcuspids and in
cisors are cut of. II requires great dexterity
10 know how far In the crown 10 cut without
LAYING the nerve bare. After the operations
on the teeth are finished, the keeper clips the
claws, and I'm a few moments the lion is bereft
OF his teeth and claws. a heavy collar and
chain are fastened around his neck, and when
lac comes to consciousness he Is a very differ
ent beast than before.
The keepers Will enter the cage AT short in
10 spring the chain retards him, and the
kccper at once admin iSters a sharp rap with a
raWhde whip The lon deprived Of his
teeth and claws, soon becomes cowardly He
IS kept well fed and If too feroclous is
druggcd until he becomes used 10 his KEEPERS
presence IN the cage
Tigers are more difficult 70 conquer. Their
teeth and claws are cut OIL In similar man
ner 10 those Of the lion. Tigers are more
treacherous, and viii spring at keeper un-
liz aFHl
ever They are druggcd and kept chained for
loug time, aud often fOgged into submis-
sion.
Lcoparls and panthers arc easily tanned.
With the wolf and the hyena the keeper fe ar
only the teeth. They are 'dog-footed," and
do not strike Ikea cat animal Their teeth
are cut and good club will do the rest
The operation upon the long tusks Of the
bab0on Is 20 painful and apparently 50 in
human as TO call for Henry Bergh's interfer-
ence. The keepers Will secure baboun's
paws and legs aud draw the creature close up
also. After he Is made fast his long tusks
are sawed of The baboOn is subject TO tooth
ache, aud his teeth are extremely sensitive
When The saw cuts through to the nerve the
poor beast will utter the most p crcing shreks
and bowls. To allay the pain, to0thache
drops OF oil Of cloves, oil OF cajuput and chic
reform are poured In the teeth and tar rubbed
on 10 keep out the air.
After the operation Is over the keeper re-
treats, the fastenings are removed aud the
babOOn allowed To recover. After such an
operation the baboOn seldom shows DISPOSE
tion to attack man. 1t is, therefore not so
wonderful after all that the man eaters and
all sorts Of carniyerous animals are paraded
through the streets With keepers among them.
Timd people should take heart aud re member
that animals clipped, druggcd aud chained in
cages are not possessed II such ferocious in-
stiucts as those OF their native wilds.