Morning journal and courier., 1890-05-05
TOLD BY A LION rAmER.
Points from a man who Has Don Service in the Hamburg Marts 10 Wild Beasts.

Points from a man who Has Done
 Service In the Hamburg Marts for ,
 Wild Beasts.
 [From the Cleveland Leader.
 Until yesterday Cleveland for more than a year had genuine lion tanner. He came without herald or the blare of trumpets, and when he found that there were no beasts of the jungle upon which to exercise his powers he settled down very quietly as 6 mechanic. He was not fond of boosting of his achieve ments, and his peculiar vocation was known only to small circle of friends. His name is Oscar Scheikron, and he waa employed by tho Schneider & Trsnkamp company. A few days ago he received an offer from Cap tain Paul Boyton, and he left this city for Chicago to train number of sea lions for the noted voyager. On the eve of his departure Soheikron made q chance visit to . book store on the Public square, the prepri- etor of which is among his acquaintances. He mentioned the fact that he was about to leave the city, and in a conversation with g small party of gentlsmsn.asssmbled rsceunted some of his experiences.
 Schsikron is 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, his power lay in his eyes. They were dark and very piercing, he said. and when Scheikron.grew earnest they flashed In 8 way that, it was conjsctursd, would be very ef- fective when the "lion was a flashing of his tail" Scheikron said when young man applied in Hamburg as 8 lion tanner he was immediately led to cage of wild beasts to JAo h0vu thaNy vn7ld fyn Ia If they displayed desire to seize him the young mans application was rejected, but if they shrank from him or remained passive he was considered worthy of addi- tional tests.
 scheikren said that immediately after the arrival of any sort of an animal from the jungles or forests 1t was the duty of the ated that the first venture of the tanner into the cage is attended with serious danger, and it is argued that it may as we'll be en- countered in the beginning. In entering 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 safe guards in its efforts to spring upon him. | frst one that almost invariably proves eff l fective, is to have a circle of men surround the cage. They are armed with long iron rods, red hot at the ends, which are inter
 posed between the man and the animal when
 the latter is about to spring. A sliding gate
 is also arranged so that it may be showed | in the way of the animal If 1t shows dis. position to disregard the hot irons.
 In Scheikron's estimation tho tanning ol
 tigers, leopards, and partners is by far ths l most dangerous features of his calling. Hs
 said that no matter how long they had beer
 in captivity they could never be trusted. Fol
 the lions, however, he expressed the admira
 tion, and he related the story of lion tha had saved his life. ScheikIon said that k
 entering the cage containing number O
 animals one day ho slipped and fell to hi
 knees. He recovered himself immediately
 but not before tiger had sprung upon him A young lion that had been his especial pc
 always occupied position behind him, ane
 on that occasion befriended him by engaging
 in conflict with tho tiger, and causing thu
 lstter to lose interest in the attack on Scheik
 ron. He said that he had always been care
 ful, and aside from that experience had hat no narrow escapes.