Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-10-18
4 LON TAMER.s YARNS.
He seized Tiger by the Skin OF IT
Back and Carried 1t on.

~ LtOtN Ntv'-ft -
He seized a Tiger by the Skin of Its
Back and Carried 1t on
The imagination OF even Barnum
must pale before the collection OF mar
yelous tales OF circus adventure con-
tanned in book recently issued In
France by the famous lion tanner,
Bidel, 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 distinc-
ton, the occasion being the escape OF
Atlier, young tiger noted for his fe-
rocity:
Through a half-open window some
one said to me, almost in whisper,
for fear the tiger should hear him;
"There he is" The brave fellows
finger pointed TO a blacksmith shop,
the door wide open and the interior,
thanks TO the binding light Of day,
seeming to be gulf OF darkness. l
rushed at 1t, just ut first | could see
nothing. Every thing was darkness.
This did not go on fer more than ten
seconds. / got used to the darkness,
and discovered the fugitive crouched
In q corner. ready TO leap upon me,
with foaming throat and flaming eyes.
One second more and he would have
sprung annihilated and torn me to
pieces. / took the initiative and 1t
was that made the spring. What
how1ings, what fury and what foam
ing! This hand-to-hand struggle In
semi-darkDess, breathless and he
furious, did not last long. Otherwise
should have been lost. With both
seized him by the skin OF his back;
lifted him over my back. and under
this enormous weight. without STUN
bling, without faltering, | walked with
firm and even step TO the menagerie.
You may imagine that was congrat-
ulated.
Lions we're more to NJ Biders taste,
and the yarns he spins OF his expert
ences with them are startling. For In
stance, once four lions In cage had
seized man passing. and, being UNI
able TO pull him through the bars o.
the cage whole, were biting him into
pieces and getting him inside in thai
way. M. Bidel, with no weapon bu
his fists, sprang into the cage and beat
the lions until they let go their prey
after having got the mans right arm
and samples Of other portions Of hi.
body inside the bars. The man recov'
cred and Is still living Another time
nj. Bidel, seeing evidences OF bad tenn
per on the part OF Sultan, black
named African lion in tho prime o
OF correcting any possible waywnrt
tendencies on the part OF the beast
He was suffering from acute rheuma
tism In his loft leg, and, at the critica
moment fell, and was bounced upon b
the lion. There was cry of horro
from those about. and NJ. Bidel wa
the only man who made no sound. i"
felt the need of being calm, " he navel
remarks; 1.-THE least mistake and a
was over" So, instead OF making
fuss and crying out, he seized the lilo
by its throat and twisted the skin wit
all his might. The lions attack wa
checked, and the next instant assist
ants with red-hot bars drove of tn
beast Nj, Bidel spang to his fee
crushed upon tho rebel and drove hin
into his retreat :"
Another lion story, less sensational
but with the same delicate flavor O
veracity that makes M. Bidel'
memoirs so delightful, is OF lion IN
lionoss who had for many years dive
together In one cage, aud whose 'ml
tual endearments were incessan
demonstratiye and touching
bachelor lion came to live next (
them. and one day, the door betwee
the two cages being left open. the liol
ess slipped through to visit the hacl
eior. The betrayed husband was b.
side himself with passion; there wi
anguish and hatred in his face, and
was plain his heart was broken.
When the lioness was driven back ,
her own cage she was instantly killt
by her husband. M y San.