Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-04-04
THE LION KING.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
OF DRIEsBAcH, THE ANIMAL
TRAINER.

OF DRlESbACd, IhE ANIMAL
TRAINER.
How the Famous Conqueror of Lions
Secumbed to a Demure Country
Lass-His Adventure with Edwin
Forest, the Actor.
A paragraph is going the rounds OF
the press to the effect that the marriage
Of Herr Driesbach, the famous lion
tanner, with a country maiden was
brought about by the young lady daring
to hand the lion king dish of onions at
hotel table. The paragraph, accord
] ing to the Chicago Inter Ocean, is err
roneous in the main, although the odor-
/, ferrous vegetable mentioned played
prominent part in the affair that termi-
mated in the matrimonial event that
made Herr Driesbach benedict. The
marriage took place in the country, and
was rather romantic in its way. The
famous lion-tamer breathed his last not
q dozen miles from the marriage altar
at which he became husband, and his
remains were laid at rest in cemetery
Just beyond the southern suburb of this
city, many residents of whom remember
the grizzled old lion king, who, as late
as half score years or so ago came to
town in a veritable ''one-hoss shay"
drawn by spotted horse.
Mrs. Driesbach, the lion tanners
widow, matronly, dignified lady, who
nearly two score years ago was Miss
Sarah Walters, comfy country school
ma am, who taught a district school
at Mt. Eaton, at the southeast corner OF
the county, is at present the guest OF
relatives here, and tells many interest
ing anecdotes that occurred during the
life of her famous husband. She recent
ly related the romance of her marriage
to the lion king. One August day in
1850, Driesbach, with his circus, was
travelling over the old Wooster and
Wheeling stage route. which passes
through Mt. Eaton. That little ham
let was reached at a meal hour, and the
tavern there became the place of enter
tainment for Driesbach and his COM
pany.
Mrs. Driesbach, then Miss Walters,
was a boarder at the hosiery and assist
ed in preparing the meal Her meeting
with the lion tanner is given in her own
words: 1--WE lad taken special pains
to get up nice meal, and | went into
the dining-room to wait on the tables.
Like every other country girl, was on
the lookout for Driesbach of whom | had
heard as the lion tanner. He came in
and took q seat at the table near where
/ stood. Another gentleman, whom
afterward learned was Gus Hunt, an old
Snowman known as Uncle Gus, who had
been with Driesbach for many years, sat
Mt the side Of Driesbach and remarked to
him: Well, Driesbach, how does this
meal suit your About everything here,
amt there Driesbach surveyed the
table and replied: yes, about everything
but an onion l heard him mention
onion and stepped up and inquired ifhe
desired any. He told me he would take
one if fresh. / ran out into the garden
and hastily secured two nice onions,
which took to him.
"The man Hunt then said to him in
sort of undertone, which / overheard,
odd fellow, | guess you struck your
match that time Driesbach looked ur
at me and smiled and said, Perhaps.
That was all that was said then, but that
evening spoke TO him, casually passing
the compliments of the day. A few
days after he had left received letter
from him asking me to correspond. /
answered the letter, and from that Oh
We corresponded. Tom Eckert. who is
now general manager Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, was post
master at Wooster at that time, and
used to tease me about writing to the
lion tamer. But | fooled Mr.. Eckert.
Driesbach would send me the route OF
his show and / would enclose my letter
in an envelope addressed to the post
master of the town where the show
would stop. il is told that few months
after met DTiesbach we were married.
Such was not the case. We were mar.
RED in April, 1854, four years after we
first met.
Among theanecdotes related in Dries.
bach's unpublished biography is one de.
scIibing how he frightened Edwin For.
rest, the actor. and his personal friend.
Forrest was playing at the old Bowoly
in New York, and the entertainments
would close with an exhibition of hons
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
curtains had fallen, he invited Forrest
home with him. Forrest assentcd, and
the two, entering a house, walked
long distance through many dark pas.
sages, and finally Driesbach said, after
opening the door: This way, Mr.. For
rest.
The actor followed, and heard door
locked behind him, and at the same tins
he felt something soft rubbing against
his leg. Putting out his hands he
touched what felt like cats back. A
low, rasping growl greeted his ears, and
he saw two fiery eyeballs glaring up