Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-15
A LI0N-TAMER.
JOHN COOPER. THE TRAINER OF
1000 FELINES.
He FIourishes Still at the Age OF
Fifty-One-his Methods, His
Career and His Numerous
perils and Escapes.


of lions. Other great personages had
lions which licked their cheeks and made
themselves socially agreeable.
Early in this century in England tht
exhibition of trained lions became very
popular, and the industry was revived
strongly. In London a man OF the
name of Atkins performed with lion, q
tigress and hybrid cub, their Off
s@rinc. The man rolled over the ami
mails, aud then the two large ones lay
down while the cub rolled over him.
Then the famous circus man, Womb
well, conceived that lion and dog fights
would be pleasing diversion for jaded
public. A lion called Nero was first
confronted with six bulldogs. The lion
however, was good-tempered, and the
sporting qualities OF the dogs appeared
TO have deserte them for the occasion.
Later another lion, Wallace, was brought
out and killed six dogs in short order.
Asa dog seldom came out OF one of these
fights alive, they were too expensive and
were not continued.
The man-and-tiger fights OF another
Snowman proved more profitable. The
tiger was large aud intelligent dog,
who submitted under conpuI,ion to be
sewn up in false tigers skin.
The most famous lion-tamer now liv.
ing is said to be John Cooper, al English
man. He is now fifty-one years old, and
in the active exercise of his profession.
A famous tanner who flourished before
him was the Dutchmap, Van Amburge,
who is surrounded by his lions in ia
nous picture by Landseer, says the Lon
don Strand.
Cooper is a strongly built, cookbook
ing man of quiet manners. At the agt
Of ten, after wide and thorough ex-
perience in the tanning of mice, rats and
rabbits, he obtained employment in q
circus. When he was twelve years old
he went into the cage of a most turbulent
lion, who had got free of his collar and
was about to break down the cage, and
calmly put the collar on again and
chained him up securely. His employer,
a miserable man of the name of Batty,
spanked him for this, bus shortly after
ward advertised him ai the boy lioa
tanner, the wonder of the world.
After working in several menageriet
he acquired one Of his own. He had q
great career as tanner on the European
Continent, Victor Emmanuel of Italy
having invited him to see his own menag-
eric. Cooper offered to go among the
lions, who had never made the acquaint-
aucc of tanner before, and did So. IL
recognition of this the King presente |
him with a pipe.
At St. Petersburg after performances
before the present Gar, CzIro yitz, al
officer, a member Of the suite, paid an
attendant to pull aside the shutters Of a
lioness' cage. The animal promptly put
out her paw and tore the officers arm,
which had to be anputa:ed. Cooper
left the Province for time, but an ia.
auiry righted him. The officer was year,
afterward sent to Siberia as Nlhilist
In France the late Prince Imperial wa;
filed with a desire to go into the cage oI
one of the animals, which was not graft.
6ed.
Cooper put the lions which hal kille
two trainers, McCarty aud Lucas AhrougA
a performance for the bensit of the lat.
ter's widow Immediately after his death.
He has spent his life in this perIlous
business, and is still sound in health and
limb, but the trademarks of it are plcnti-
fully scattered about him.
For instance, he lost the top of his
finger at the hands OF a wolf whea he
was ten. The third finger of his left
hand is shortened, aud the nail grows
over the top towards the palm, This
was done accidently in Italy by lion
whom he was persua1ing to open his
jaws. In connection with this incident,
Cooper denies the good old tradition
that the taste of blood inturiates a wild
beast. This lion, he says, spat out the
blood and piece Of finger and shovel
evident signs of distaste.
Once when he was at Hamburg it was
necessary to add two new hons to his
stock. He had never hesitated to 90
amodg strange animals in public. A
fierce fight began between an oil lion
and one OF the new ones. Cooper went
in with whip to quiet matters. He
struck at the old one, but hit the new
one, who responded with blow OF the
paw on the taner's shoulder, tearing the
flesh from that and the breast.
With his right arm he attempted to
drive of the beast, but it seize that
and bare the bone from elbow to wrist.
The other lions drew round aud began
to chew him sureptitiously in the legs
and elsewhere. Still he retained his
presence Of mind, continued to hammer
at - lions, saved his own life and
quelled his friends-the enemy for this
occasion only.
The injuries would have killed man
OF less strength aut vigor, but in three
months he was we'll again and perform
;nor vifhott oven having lost ono or hi.