Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-02-03
in p eparing IL

HERR DRIESBACH.
Her meeting with the lion tanner is
given in her own words: 1--WE Lad taker
special pains to get up mica meal, ard
went into the dining-To0m to help visit on
the tables. Like any other country girl,
was on the lookout for Drie3hach, Of whom
| bad heard as the lion tanner. He came
in and took seat at the table near where
stood. Another gentleman, whom af-
terward learned WAS Gus Hunt, an old
Snowman known es UIc'e GINS, who had
been with Driesbsch for many yeare, est
al the side of DIiesbach, and remarked II
him, We'll, Driesbsch, no does this meal
suit your. Abou. everything hers, Gin
there?' Driesbach surveyed the table and
replied, Yes, about everything bat an
onion heard him mention onion, and
1 steppsd up and inquired if he desired
any. He told me he would take one il
fresh. Iran out INFO the garden and hast
iIy secured two nice onions, which l took
10 him. TIE man Hunt then said to him in
sort Of undertone, which l overheard,
'O.d fellow, guess you struck your match
that time Dresbsch looked up at me and
smiled and said, Perhaps That was all
thEt vas said then, but that evening spoke
to him, casuslly passing the compliments
of tae day. A few days after lie had left,
l received letter from him asking me to
correspond. l answered the letter, and
from that on we corresponded. Tom Eek
ert, who is now general manager of the
Western Union Telegraph Company, was
postmaster at Wooster at that time, and
used TO tease me about writing to the lion
tanner. But fooled Mr. Eckert. Driesbach
would eend me the route of his sho " and
l would enclose my letter in an Envelope
addressed to the postmaster of the town
where tee show would etop. 1t is told
that few months sfter met Driesbsch
we were married. Such is not the case.
We we're married in April, 1854, four years
after we fret met"
D:iesbach's famous career began IN New
York City, to which place he drifted after
the death of his parents in SchObarie coun-
ty, New York, when he was ii years of age.
His remarkable power over wild beasts
developed while he was hlling position
in the biological Gardens in New York,
where he was at one time policeman on
the Bowery, also. He was a personal
friend of Daniel Web3ter and Henry Clay,
and made d successful tour of Europe as
Snowman aud tanner of wild anmils, be-
sides exhibiting over the United States,
being considered the foremost man IN his
profession. The first illustrated show bills
ever printed were gotten up for his show
After his professional career ended he
settled in this county with his wife, and
spelt his last days as the landlord of an
Inn at Apple Creek, this county. where he
died on December 5, 1873. His widow
was left with ore son, now on tbs thres'
hold of manhood, aud who has taken up
The study of medicine. MIS- D;ieabsch
has been matron of the Boys Reform
School at Lancaster, this State, aud at
present holds the position ofmltrOn at the
Indian training school at Albuquerque, n.
NJ. She has in her possession the manu-
SCRIPT Of biography of his life, yet I'M
published, which contains many interest
log incidents. The accompanying por-
trait is the first newspaper cut ever made
of the lion king, and is taken from cray
On portrait from life, which is intended to
be used as the frontispiece his biography
Among the anecdote related in his biog-
raphy is one describing ho7 NJ frightened
L Twin Forrest, the actor, and his psreonsl
friead. Forrest was playing ct the old
Bowery in New York, aud the entertain
meuts would close with an exhibition OF
lions By Driesbach. Forrest was one day
saving that he had never known fear, and
had never experienced any emotion of
fright. Driesbach made no remark at the
time, but in the evening after the curtain
had fallen. he invited Forres! home with
him. Forrest asssntsd, and the two, en-.
tering a house, walked long distance
through many dark PASSAGE and finally
Driesb1ch said: ''This way, Mr.. For
rest" The actor followed, and
hoard door locked behind him,
and az the same time he felt some
thing soft rubbing against his leg. Put
ting out his hand he touched what felt
like a cats back. A low, ras2ing gTowl
greeted his ears, and he saw two fiery eye
balls glazing up at him. "Are you afraid,
Mr.. FoYrest?' asked DTiesbach. mot a
bit" replied Forrest. Drie5bacN said
something, and the growl deeped and be-
came hoarser; the back began to arch and
the eyes to shine more fisrcely. Forrest
held ont for several minutes, but the sym
toms became so terrifying that ne owned
ND that be was afraid. He begged the Lion
King to let him out, as he dared not move
a finger while lion kept rubbing agains.
his leg After Forrest acknowledged that
ba knew what fear was and sgreed to stand
a champagne supper, Driesbach released
him.
The followingis told in Driesbach's own
words: Il was exhibiting in the city OF
Baltimore. We were playing piece IN
which one of my tigers was to leap from
above upon me as though to kill me. At
ter he would jump on me we would roll
around on the floor as though engaged IN
mortal combat. The theatre in which We
l. ;