The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-24
TOLD BY A LION tanner.
A Man Who Has Done Service in the
Hamburg Mart for Wild Beasts.

A Man Who Has Done Service in the
Hamburg Mart for Wild Beasts.
Cleveland for more than year had a
genuine lion tanner. He came without
herald or the blast of t1umpets, and when
he found that there were no beasts of the
jungle upon which to exercise his powers
he settled down very quietly as a me-
chanic. He was not fond of boasting of
his achievements and his peculiar vocation
was known only to a small circle of
friends. His name is Oscar Scheikron and
he was employed by the Schneider & Tren-
kamp company. He received an offer from
Capt. Paul Boyton and he left this city
for Chicago TO train a number of sea lions
for the noted voyager. On the eve of his
departure Scheikron made a chance visit
to book store on the public square, the
proprietor OF which is among his acquaint-
ances. He mentioned the fact that he was
about to leave the city and, in a converse
ton with small party of gentlemen as
sembled, recounted some of his experiences.
Scheikron is a German, and the greater
part Of his life has been spent in the land Of
the kaiser. He learned his vocation in
Hamburg, probably the greatest center in
the world for dealers in wild animals, and
he has been employed in large number of
geological gardens and by many circus pro-
prietors. He is of medium height and slen-
der build. In speaking of him, however,
one of Scheikron's auditors said that part of
his power lay in his eyes. They were dark
and very piercing, he said, and when Scheik-
ron grew earnest they flashed in a way that,
it was conjectured, would be very effective
when the lion was lashing of his tail"
Scheikron said when a young man applied
In Hamburg as a lion tanner he was inme-
diately led to q cage Of wild beasts to learn
how they would act in his presence If
they displayed desire to seize him the
young mans application was rejected, but
if they shrank from him or remained pas
sive he was considered worthy of additional
tests.
Scheikron said that Immediately after
the arrival of any sort OF animal from the
jungles or forests it was the duty of the
tanner to enter the cage. The fact is appre-
ciated that the first venture of the tanner
into the cage is attended with serious
danger, and it is argued that it may as well
be encountered in the beginning. In enter
ing the cage the tanner is armed with
heavy knife and revolvers, that he may be
able to defend himself if the beast should
pass other safeguards in its efforts to spring
upon him. The other safeguards are two
in number. The first one that almost in
variably proves effective is to have circle
of men surround the cage They are
armed with long iron rods, red hot at the
ends, which are intcrpOsed between the
man and the animal when the latter is
about to spring A sliding gate is also ar
ranged so that ii may be showed IN the way
of the animal if it shows a disposition to
disregard the hot irons
In Scheikron's estimation the tanning Of
tigers, leopards; and panthers IS by far the
most dangerous feature Of his calling. He
said that no matter how long they had
been in captivity they could never be trust
ed. For the lions, however, be expressed
admiration, and he related the story Of a
lion that had saved his life. Scheikron
said that in entering the cage containing a
number of animals one day he slipped and
fell to his knees. He recovered himself in
mediately, but not before a tiger had
sprung upon him. A young lion that had
been his especial pet always occupied a
position behind him, and on that occasion
befriended him by engaging in conflict
with the tiger, and causing the latter 70
lose interest in the attack on Scheikron.
He said that he had alwsys bean careful,
and aside from that experience had had 10
narrow escaQes.-Clevelald Leader.
come Curious RsinboEs.