Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-04-03
MIR. WITTICH'S PET LIONRSS.
She sleeps On His Bed and Parrs Lik,
a Kitten and ts FIJI crown.

a A1Gten ana t@ F0I1 Crown.
[Frem tie Miles City Stock Growers JournaLI
It requires peculiar conformation in man
to fit him for the dangerous calling of sub
DUNG and training ferecious wild animals
Nerve of undsubted quality he must possess,
for the least sign of fear proves his inevita-
BILE failure, if not destruction. Coolaess and
Judgment are necessary requisites, but all
those qualities can be found in many men
who apparently have no power ever the more
vicious natures of the brute creation, while
some fragile person, with little to distinguish
him from his fellows more than possibly an
unusually amiable disposition, can accom-
plish wonders in subduing the natural fero-
city of the most dangerous animals.
It has generally been conceded that the
mountain lion, or cougar of the western
mountains, is an untamable brute, whose
thirst for blood could never be overcome or
treachery guarded against. Earl B. Witch,
taxidermist at Livingstone, in this terrific
ry (Mentana), has disproved the theory, and
has in his possession full grown mountain
lioness that sleeps upon the bed with him,
purring like cat, and is as playful with her
master as any member of the feline family
could possibly be.
An old hunter killed the mother of this
peculiar pet, and the head of the animal,
well mounted, can be seen in Captain Kreid-
| ler's Office in this city. The cub Mr.. Wit
| itch obtaiAed possession of when quite
| small, and is now the wonder of tourists
| passing through Livingston. This beast has
| a horrible penchant for small children, yet
so wonderful is the control Mr. Witch has
| obtained over the beast that he can make it
| lie down and lay baby across its neck, but
| he never takes his eyes off the animal while
making the dangerous test of power, for
| from the working of its paws and the vicious
| gleam of it's eyes it gives evidence that if the
| keepers back were turned the infants de-
struction would be spsedy and certain.
| Mr.. Witch has also favorite dog which
! he has trained to wrestle with the lionsss and
| perform many tricks. For instance, he will
| make the mountain beast lie dewn upon her
/ side, place piece OF raw beefsteak on her,
/ and send the dog to take it off, which the
/ animal will permit if the masters eye is upon
| her; but in all probability if his vigilance
| was relaxed for an instant both beefsteak and
| dog would disappear in short order. The
| animal attracts general attention from the
| visitors and furnishes a striking proof of
| mans power over the animal creation.
His Conscience Troubled HIna.
| LFrom Wooster co. Special
Peter Spangler is one of Wayne county e
| well-known, well-to-do farmers. Thirty-f1ve
years ago he was a passenger from Lakeville
to Wooster on the Pennsylvania and Ohio
railroad, now known as the Pittsburg, Fort
| Wayne and Chicago. The conductor on the
train neglected to take fare from Mr.. Span
| gler, and to-day Mr.. Spangler called on
| Agent Leyda, at Wooster station, and in
| formed him that he wanted to pay for the
| ride he took thirty-fVe years ago. Mr.. Span
| gler said the matter had weighed on his con-
science and he desired to pay the fare with
| interest thereon for all that time. The mon
| ey has been forwarded to the general passen-
| ger agent.