The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-02
IF YOU KNOW HOW
CHAM THEM UP, TAKE A WHIP AND
DON'T SHOW ANY FEAR.

When They Jump at You Hit EN-, Talk
to EN-, Hit EN- Again if They Juml At
Master-That's the Way to Train Tigers.
$50 you think there amt any work
done in winter quarters, eh?' said George
Conklin, superintendent of Barnum's
menagerie, as he chewed a bit Of straw
by the big stove in the middle Of the
wild animal room in the quarters at
Bridgeport. "No work, eh? You think
we just loaf all winter, keep the fires
up and feed the animals? Well, that
shows how much you know about it. Do
you see that den of tigers over there:"
Mr.. Conklin and his visitor ap-
preached long cage standing in line
with many other cages in long one
story brick building, which bounded the
eastern end Of the great inclosure which
the big show occupies during the winter
season. The cage had five Bengal tigers
in it. Four of them were together. The
fifth was separated from the others by
temporary iron grating. Two of the
four tigers which were in company had
thick leather collars round their necks,
and stout chains several feet long fast
ened to them. The tiger in solitary con-
inement was similarly harnessed.
"Well," said Mr.. Conklin, "Ill tell you
one thing we do besides feeding these
tigers We train them. Those fellows
in there who have chains on them, and
are just now splitting and growing at us
in such savage style, are new. Wehave
had them only a month or two. The
others are old boys who will let me go
into the cage and not say word to me.
By the time we go on the road they will
all let me go into the cage. give them
a lesson every day. That's one thing we
do during the winter"
HOW TO TRAIN TIGERS.
GLOW do you tame them!" asked the
visitor.
"It's easily DONE" said the trainer
carelessly. Every day have the men
catch the ends Of the chains which hold
the new tigers, and fasten them to the
bars so they can only move a certain dis
IstuCO. L iicI dI Lii III SCll WIN al law
hide whip and stout club and enter the
cage. take chair with me and sit
down in corner.
THE minute | get in the unframed
tigers spring at me. No doubt they
would chew me to shreds if they got at
me, but the chains hold them back and
they only tumble on the floor. l hit
them smartly with the whip and they
crouch back and snarl After little
shove my chair closer. Then they jump
at me again, but again are thrown down
by their chains.
81 shove closer and repeat the pro-
gramme, and finally | get so close that
they can touch me with their noses, but
not bite me. Here sit for a long time,
talking to them as long as they remain
quiet, and switching them with all the
force possib when they become fierce.
In the course Of few weeks they be-
come used to my entrance, and only
cringe and snarl at me. Then 1 try them,
one by one. without chain.
Il have never so far used the club. Now
l hold it ready to deal mighty blow il
necessary, but it is seldom necessary.
The tiger is subdued and permits my en-
trance whenever l choose. / have got
these tigers here nearly trained. They
snarl yet, you see, but next week will
tackle them without chains. That fell
low in the other compartment is tract
able enough, but he persists in fighting
with the big Bengal, so we have to keep |
them separate. Do you see that long
mark on his belly? He and the big fell |
low had a particularly hard fight the |
other day, and that is one result.
POWER OF THE HUMAN EYE.
eff we hadn't had the big fellows claws
clipped beforehand he'd have ripped open |
the new one from end TO end. SO there's |
another delicate job for me. I've got to |
get those tigers on good terms"
us there any basis Of truth in the |
many stories that are told of the power
Of the human eye over wild beasts:7
Not the slightest" said Conkiin dis
painfully. 'Of course it is true that a
man who aims 10 subdue wild beasts
must show fearless front, and no doubt
the eye shares with the body generally |
the task of impressing the beast But |
the real requisite is real feariesnes. II
q mans heart is sturdy he need not care
a rap about his eyes. Ee can leave them
to themselves, jus. as he leaves the other
members Of his body. The secret OF
tanning wild beasts is the realization that
al wild beasts, however ferocious. are AZ
heart cowards-particuiarly if they BE-
long TO the cat family, as lions, tigers,
leopards and panthers do. That granted.
. stout heart, a stout arm and stout
whip or club is all tia. is necessary.
never have known fear"
do you always clip the claws Of your
ferocious animals"
Those Of the ca. t-ibe always, said
the trainer. 1T 10 quite job. too, and
requires number Of men You've got
. s-,ar yorI- linn ~ <ss-r- rIr-S: in such |