Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-23
THE SHOWMAN'S STORY.
ALIFE SPENT AMONG VICIOUS AMI
MAILS AND IN THE RING.
The Keeper Of the Atlanta Zoo Tells Some
of His Experiences During . Circus
Career of Seventeen Years-"Charming"
in all Noasense-A Tall Bear Story.

| Career Of Seventeen fears-"Ch2rm1ng
ia all Noasense--A Tall Bear Story.
ssThere is a great deal Of difference be-
! tween shows now and shows in times fgone
| by" said one who has grown up III the bust
| ness, and who until a few months ago, knew
comparatively little about any other sort Of
! life
The speaker was Mr.. j. W. Ravens, the
keeper of the Grant Park ZOO
YES" he continued, as he patted the big
! lion Molly on the nose, in her cage at the
| Zoo s'the show business isn't what it used to
| be- 1t has been ruined, you might say, by
| high license and fakirs: by fakirs l mean the
sharpers who hang on to every show that is
| big enough to sport a tent, and who has
| brought every one connected with the bust
| ness into disrepute by their knavery. Then
there used to be time when everybody
about show worked, when the high kicker,
| the rider, rope walker and all used to turn in
| and lend hand at the work of putting up
tents and the like of that. But that's all
changed now. The actors have got to think
they are better'n the balance of the boys, and
in place of the good old fashioned ono ring
show, where everybody could see and hear,
it's two and three rings, with rush from
start to finish. No, sir, the show business
amt what it used to be; it's changed"
Tell me something about your circus
hfe.n
We've seen a good deal, haven't we,
Molly" and the keeper again caressed the
great shaggy head that pressed up close to
the bars of the cage by his side. Eyes, we
have been together hong time-Molly and
me. l captured her when she was a cub,
and though she has been owned by dozen
different shows, we've never been separated
for long at a time. She's not the gentlest
creature IN the world, but with me she's as
friendly as kitten. Did she ever hurt any
body, did you ask Yes, she has killed her
man 1t happened in Cairo Ills, about two
years ago, on a parade. You see, was in
one cage with that spotted fellow down yon-
der and Pearl Atwood, another trainer, was
in the cage with Molly here. We never
could tell just how it happened, but all at
once the Eoness sprang up and struck Pearl
on the back with her paws. The blow para
lived him, and in two months he died. Itwas
pretty bad, but such things will happen, you
know; and the worst CT it is, when they do
occur, the people say, Oh, well, he was fool
anyhow for going in there with the beast"
lou u you cNei Sco IuCAA u oAhCN ~ ChCy
won't go back on you"
II don't care how well trained an animal
is a man is always in danger when he is in
reach Of their paws or fangs. You can make
them let you put your head in their mouths,
but every time you do it you might as well
say your prayers. You hear some folks talk
about charming-snake charmers and such
like. That's all nonsense. 1t is nothing in
the world but nerve. If you had the cour-
age, you could go into that cage there with
Rose OF Molly with just as much safety as
| do. All you've got to do is to make them
know that you're the boss, that you are not
afraid Of them"
A loud roar from the striped jaguar in
terrupted the keeper. The animal had been
aroused by small boy with stick. After
quoting his jaguarship by a few words,
coupled with the necessary gestures, Mr..
Haven continued:
Lets see-oh. yes, 1 was telling you about
training 'em. I'll just give you little in
stance of how it's done. 1t was only little
more than year ago. The show was with
then was in New Orleans, and while there we
ran across big Russian bear named Marcus.
Marcus had also killed his man, and his
owner was very anxious to get rid Of him.
Well, we bought the bear. but he was so
savage that it was almost impossible to get
him from one cage to another. l was deter
mined, though, to tame him enough to lead
BY a collar. One day put three muzzles on
him in trying to get collar around his
neck to lead him, but he tore the whole
three to pieces. Finally, however, l got
the collar on and succeeded in getting Mar
Gus out and in tying him to stake. But l
had no sooner done this than he turned
upon me, lacerating my leg very badly
with his claws and teeth. This made
me mad, and l picked up a tent stick
aud dubbed him till l thought he was dead.
He Law as still as corpse for some time, and
then, thinking | had killed him, went up
close to his side. But Marcus wasn't dead
worth a cent. When | got to him he rose
and actually licked my face. l had con-
ouered, and after that l had no trouble in
handling him, though he was vicious as ever
toward everybody else, nearly killing a boy
some time afterward"
What became of Marcus9 That isn't him
out there in the park, is it,"
No; he was shot and killed by some fell
lows that were afraid Of him. Up in New
port, Tenn. Marcus, who was then owned by
cage breaking down and made things lively
there for time, tell you. He made for
the country, with me after him. | could
get within ten feet of him, but he wouldn't
let me come any closer Finally we came
to q large mill pond. on the far side
of which was a canebrake Mr. Bear
plunged into the water and took ref
uge in the cane. | secured boat
7
Gus started up tree, but before he got up
too high graSped his collar and pulled him
down. AS quick as he hit the ground, he was
up and of, only stopping TO show his teeth
and growL He made for the bank of the
pond again and came out of the cane right
where my boat was i don't know what
made me do it, but when l saw Marcus look
ing at the boat, suddenly gave the COM
mand, Get in that boat, sir and in he got,
very much to my surprise as we'll as that OF
the boys who were waiting for me on the
other bank. Well, pushed the boat Off,
jumping in the bow. Slowly / moved along
till got to the oars When / picked them
up Marcus took a step or two back ward, and
getting on the stern sheet sat straight up,
Just like 4 man. On the other side of the
pond the boys threw me some apples and a
rope. The fruit put Marcus in good hui
NOR, and finally got the rope over his head,
and led him back to the show
in Mobile, while was of on a vacation
Marcus got out again. Everybodv was
afraid of him, and he had to be shot before
he could be captured. Five balls were fired
into him, and it's funny but every one of the
five wounds but the last were neatly plugged
with hair before be bit the dust. and the
shots were al 1reo inside of Ave minutes
too"
You've seen good many ups and downs
in your show life, haven't you.'
es but I'm done with il now I.,s +bs