The sun., 1889-03-31
INTO THE LIONS DEN.
THE BOLD ADVENTURE OF TWO BTKN-
mo SUN REPORTERS.

They Eater Cages OF wild Beasts at Bar.
pum--One Visits the Lions md the Other
the Ttgers-Their story orthe Experience
Old Showmen a rtoni-bed at the Exploit
Tho following remarkable story, which is
truo in every particular. relates the experience
OF two reporters who voluntarily fnced appnll.
ing danger in quest OF n new form OF adven
turc. Tho reporters were N A. Jennings and
W. J. Rouse.
The two EVENING Sun reporters who rode the
big elephants, Fritz and Gyp In tho street
rarade last Friday evening were conversing
with Superintendent George Conklin OF the
animal department in tho Garden yesterday,
when the subject of lion and tiger training
came IN. William II. Winner. one OF the most
famous lion tanners living to-day. had also been
spoken 10 upon the same subject n day or two
previous. and had told tho reporters many
interesting details connected with the breaking
OF such treacherous animals as those with
which he has had to deal for a quarter OF cen.
turv. Mr.. Winner IL q SCARED veteran In that
limo OF business and knows all about 1t. As
trade marks he bears many proofs OF deadly
encounters with these animals, and has been
near deaths door many times as result OF
battles with them.
What was your experience the first time
you entered q den 2" was asked OF one OF the
veterans.
We'll, ] can't tell you. The doors were
closed between me and the animals. but that
doesn't make tho slightest difference to them.
for they can reach through tho bars Of tho
cross doors and take leg OF you as easy rs
rolling of log II they are 30 inclined. and you
can't get away from them either. won't In
and stood still in tho corner. ! hadn't been
there hundredth part of a second. 1t seemed
10 me. when a paw. about rs big and as yellow
as a cnnvassed ham, struck my leg. removed
half yard Of my trousers and some OF the
skin"
What did you do then 2" was asked as the
newspaper men exchanged glances and Won
dered what manner Of consolation or encour-
agement could be cleaned from this tale.
Then my lair rose on end, my knees struck
together and rolled or fell. or tumbled out OF
the door as quick as the Lord would let me.
Excited! Well. Just trife. imagine"
But do you mean to say that If division
door Is closed the animals can reach a man In
tho empty compartments
This was a delicate question. and the
porters waited most anXiously for the reply.
II 1t were In tile negative. then there would be
but little danger. If in the affirmative. 1t was
barely possible that the idea OF becoming lion
tanners would be- ANONYMOUSLY abandoned.
and sheep would be used to commence Ia ming
trainer dropped in his reply was eagerly swa-
lowed in a vain look for an assuring sentence.
Certainly they can get you. They can reach
about three feet The middle compartment is
only 81 feet wide. and II you move out Of the
way OF ono the tiger in the other end OF the
cage will have picnic with you.'
But can't the end compartment be used for
the men to stand in instead OF the middle one p
suggeste ted a scribe
No: there is no door except in the middle
compartment. Oh. it's all one compartment
to within u foot and a half Of the top. and are
fastened only BY a half-inch bolt, dropping into
socket il the floor, anyway, We don't care
separating doors open. as they very often d0
We hit them a belt on the nose with rawhds
and ehas. them back That doesn amount to
surely there was little in this interview to
s rsr tee
ally thought they we're being interviewed in the
orthodox way. and all that was wanted was
soros ssHiy W such 20 ssHs fS narrat,es Woud
they never understand that II was sympathy
and encouragement the reporters wanted. and
not bloo1thlrsty accounts OF men being eaten
BY the beasts!
adventurous pair. however. when Mr.. Conklin
remarked in an audible aside that there WAS
rsaKd Who N his
about him and didn't show the white feather.
Now that was consoling anu healing to the
meeting was hroached before he had time TO
add anything to spoil the effect. They wanted
easy. and exciting and plrasurabe. anyhow.
whether 1t was 80 or not: Imagination. in lion
Hnd tiger In AL etasr fnngs nme ss ESes eG
imagine that 1t was all right they would not
hesitate u moment.
all around under the vans in vain Tor spch a |
useful article; SO as to have 1t on hand II it |
there was no danger Of their showing it. OF |
these points the trainer and superintendent |
Question @ foA in Single % Breath. @ pv both 'p'" 'A
May We 20 In and Interview those lions and
What" gasped Superintendent Conklin in
go in there" screamed Winner. with three
exclamation points understood.
"@hsa'' W.; n't'
Now. of course"
You re Joking, aren't you?'
=, The veteran animal man was assured that
the reporters were positively in earnest apd
time Tor thought. and then consulted with Tody
Hamilton. tho genial press agent for the big
ent. held w both hands in holy horror at he
bare thought Of such thing. and begged The
an mea II Gts 5heI o
mai cages were gathered about, and had heard
tnc I unusual reHueri with horror. and surprise.
Mr. Conklin was soon convinced OF.
We'll youil be the first n newspaper men who
ever interviewed these animals In their house;
and IN bot you'll be the last Tor many II year.
But II you have the courage to CO. IN 60 with
on and klkc YOU in. viii you do ty'
A lathGr faint. but mono tho less distinct
Yes" spoken double. settled the matter. and
then 1t wa; TOO late to bnck out. Either report;
er would DOUBTLESS have willingly consented
to Withdraw had the other made the, initial
step in that direction: but neither would make
the FIRST move toward a backduwn.
superlntendcnt Gonklln placed two small
stepladders inside the rniIinGs in front, OF the
cages. and then placed one OF tho ladders in
front Of the cage contnining the lions and the
other in n similar position at the tiger den. lie
I'M ocked the doors, but st Ill left them fastened
and Led TO tho first reporter To get ready.
The lions we're to bo visited first, and they evi-
IDENTIFY knew that something unusual was about
70 hnpueD.
Mr.. Kelnr and fully twenty Rentemen who
Here Interested In tile welfare OF the reporter
who was T. go in camo to a stand In front Of the
'age. kellar Dade him grave goOd-hy and
Conklin SWUNG back tho heavy
ron door.
- ron had better tako your overcont Off" said
Manager COuklin tt the writer - IT'S best TO