The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-29
LIoN-rAMER eIDEL's YARNS.
He Seized Tiger by the Skin OF Its
Back and Carried 1t OF.
Erom me Ne,r York Sln

From the Netr York sun.
The ina 5ination OF even Barnum must
pale before the collection of marvellous
tales of circus adventure contained in a
book recently issued in France by the fam
Gus lion-tamer Bidei, which purports to be
a memoir of his life, and the accuracy OF
which is vOuched for, by the way, by. excel
lent authority. This is his account of the feat
which first won him distinction, the occa-
son being the escape of Atlier, young
tiger noted for its ferocity.
Through a half-open window some one
said to me, almost in a whisper, for fear the
tiger would hear him, There he is The
brave fellows finger pointed to black
smith sLop, the door wide open and the in
terror, thanks to the binding light of day,
seeming to be gulf of darkness. rushed
at it. Just at first I could see nothing
Everything was darkness. This did not go
on for more than ten seconds. i got used to
the darkness, and | discovered the fugitive
croucling in corner, ready to leap upon
me, with foaming throat and flaming eyes.
One second more and he would esprung,
annihilated, and torn me to pieces. / took
the initiative, and it was / that made the
spring. What howllngs, what fury, and
what foaming! This hand-to-hand struggle
in semi-darkness, l breathless, and he furi-
ONof NiiN ilOO tdot iOuB. OlhSA " loC ShOhlbt
have been lost. With both my hands.
which are strong and large, l seized him
by the skin ofhis back; lifted him over
my back, and under this enormous weight,
without stumbling, without faltering, l
walked with a firm and even step to the
menagerie. You can imagine that / was
congratulated"
After this no one will be surprised to hear
that bears were, for NJ. Bidel, a mere mat
fnF. of = Z
the time when black bear and bison that
were IN desperate coufict, and the bear had
already eaten off the bison's hump" when
Nj. Bidel flung himself upon the beasts, seiz-
lag one by the neck and driving the other
into its cage. The occasion when an I'M
fortunate elephant was rescued from tie
attack OF a nuge white bear in the same
fashion is also mentioned.
Lions were more to NJ. Bidel's taste, and
the yarns be spins of his experiences with
them are startling. For instance, once
four lions in cage had seized man pass
ing, and being unable to pull him through
the bars OF the cage whole, were biting him
to pieces and getting him inside that way.
NJ. Bidel, with no weapon but his fists,
sprang into the cage and beat tn lions I'M
til they let go their prey, after having got
the mans right arm and samples of other
portions of his body inside the bars. The
IcCON6I6u anu ID otlll INlDS. AuObutI
time NJ. Bidel, seeing evidences of bad tenn
per on the part of Sultan, black-maned
African lion in the prime of life, entered
the cage for the purpose of correcting any
possible wayward tendencies on the part Of
the beast. He was suffering from acute
rheumatism in his left leg, and at the criti-
cal moment, fell and was bounced upon by
the lion. There was a cry of horror from
those about, and NJ Bidel was the only
IL. GA
of being calm" he naively remarks; "tne
least mistake, and all was over" So in
stead Of making fuss and crying out, he
seized the lion by its throat and twisted the
skin with all his might. The lions attack
was checked, and the next instant assist
ants with red hot bars drove off the beast.
NJ. Bidel sprang to his feet, rushed upon
the rebel, and drove him into his retreat"
Another lion story. less sensational, but
with the same delicate flavor of veracity
that makes NJ. Bidels memoirs so delightful
is of lion and lioness who had many years
dwelt together in one cage, and whose 'mu-
tual endearments were ,incessant, demon
strative and touching" A bachelor lion
came to live next to them, and one day the
door between the two cages being left open,
the lioness slipped tn ough to visit the
bachelor. "The betrayed husband was be-
side himself with passion; there was an
RUlsu dllu ldJI6Q III Ills ldCe, anu was
plain that his heart was broken." When
the lioness was driven back to her own &c
she was instantly killed by her husband
Not all of M. Bidels adventures were with
that portion of the animal kingdom classed
as wild. Early in life after having
apprenticed himself to a travelling
dentist, having been driven out of
home by the cruelty of lion
tanning stepfather jealous of his budding
NJ IL III
of soft eyes, that softened still more wien
he was about. He called upon her father
and his ardent suit drew from that worthy
the sole remark: Are you fool, my boyp
Such little thing as that, however, could
not defeat so valiant soul as that of NJ
Bidel, and after getting pot of money he
made another application. This time there
was anew objection. His conduct with the
ladies' he was told, had not been above re-
proach, and one English lady i'll particular
had been conspicuous in following NJ. Bidel
about, never missing a performance where
he was to enter the lions den. M. Bidel
protested that he knew not the woman.
Fair creatures in all ranks of life, from girls
cites to grandames. hs admitted, persisted
in following him about, but was he respon-
sible for thata He simply could not
them from running after him. The
father was obdurate, and at last
NJ Bidel demanded that the mat
ter be put to the test; that the English
woman be compelled to state her intentions.
Two gentlemen were selected as umpires,
and at the next performance they ap-
preached the English woman. NJ. Bidel
was about to be married, they remarked to
her.
"Well." she replied, "what is that to me?
Is he going to retire from businessP
1t was explained that her attentions to
the tanner had been so remarkable as to
create unpleasant comment
"Prav don't concern yourselves, she said,
laughing contemptuously; 81 am widow
and like to amuse myself, and if go about
after this menagerie, it is because want to
be there when this gentleman is eaten"