The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-06
A LION-TAMER.
JOHN COOPER, THE TRAINER or,
1000 FELINES.

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He Flourishes Still at the Age OF
Fitty-One-His Methods, His
Career and Els Numerous
Perils and Escapes.
Lion tanning is a very ancient industry.
Marc Antony is reported to have driven
about Rome in a chariot drawn by 8 pair
of lions. Other great personages had
lions which licked their cheeks and made
themselves socially agreeable.
Early in this century in England the
exhibition Of trained lions became very
popular, and the industry was revived
strongly. In London q man of the
name of Atkins performed with a lion, q
tigress and a hybrid cub, their off
spring. The man rolled over the ami,
mails, and then the two large ones lay,
down while the cub rolled over him.
Then the famous circus man, Womb
we'll, conceived that lion and dog fights
would be a pleasing diversion for a jadedf
public. Alton called Nero was first
confronted with six bulldogs. The lion,
however, was good-tempered, and the
sporting qualities Of the dogs appeared
to have deserted them for the occasion.
Later another lion, Wallace, was brought
out and killed six dogs in short order.
As a 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 a large and intelligent dog,
who submitted under compulsioa to be
sewn up in a false tigers skin.
The most famous lion.tamer now Ev-,
ing is said to be John Cooper; NJ English-
man. he is now ifty-one years OLE, and
in the active exercise Of his profession.
A famous tanner who fourished before
him was the Dutchman, Van Amburge,
who is surrounded By his lionsin "a.
nous picture by Landseer, says the Lon
don 6rond. "a
Cooper is q strongly built, cookbook
ing man Of quiet manners. At the age
Of ten, after a wide and thorough ex-
periencei in the tanning Of mice, rats and
rabbits, he obtained employment In q
circus. When be was twelve years old
he went into the cage Of Almost turbulent
lion, who had got free OF his collar aud
was about to break down the cage, and
calmly put the collar on again and
chained him up securely. his employer
q miserable man of the name Of Batty,
spanked him for this, but shortly after
ward advertised him as the boy lion.
tanner, the wonder Of the world.
After working in several naenageries
he acquired one OF his OWN. He had
great career as q tanner on the European
Continent, Victor Emmanuel gof Italy
having invited him to, see his own menag.
erie. Cooper offered to 60 among the
lions, who had never made the aequaint.
ance of a tanner before, aud did so In
recognition of this the King presented
him with q pipe. 4
At st. Petersburg after q performance
before the present Gear, Czarowitzy az
officer, a member of the suite, paid an
attendant to pull aside the shutters of o.
lioness's cage. The animal promptly put
out her paw and tore the officers arm,
which had to be amputated. Cooper
left the Province forsa time, but an in
curry righted him. The officer was years
afterward sent to Siberia as q Nihilist.
In France the late Prince Imperial was
filed with a desire to 60 into the cage OF
one of the animals, which was not graft.
fed.
Cooper put the lions which had killed
two trainers, Mccarty and Lucas, through
a performance for the benefit of the lat-
ter's widow Immediately after his death.
He has spent his life in this p%erllous
business, and is still sound in health and
limb, but the trademarks oft are plenti.
fully scattered about him.
For instance, he lost the top Of his
finger at the hands of q wolf when he
was ten. The third finger OF his left
hand is shortened, and the nail grows
over the top towards the palm. This
was done accidently in Italy by Lion
whom he was persuading to. open his
Jaws. In connection with this incident,
Cooper denies the good old tradition
that the taste of blood infuriates q wild
beast. This lion, he says, spat out the
blood and piece Of finger and showed
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 go
amolg strange animals in public. A
fierce fight began between an old lion
and one Of the new ones. Cooper went
in with a whip to quiet matters. BE
struck at the old one, but hit the new
one, who responded witha blow of the
paw on the tanners shoulder, tearing the
flesh from that and the breast.
With his right arm he attempted to
drive off the beast, but it seized that
and barred the bone from elbow to wrist.
The other lions drew round and began
to chew him surreptitiously in the legs
and elsewhere. Still he retained his
presence of mind, continued to hammer
at the lions, saved his WI life and
ouelled his friends-the enemy for this
occasion only.
The injuries would have killed man
of less strength aud vigor, but in three
months he was we'll again and perform
ing, without ever having lost one OF his
mutilated arms. The new lion became
one of his most attached and faithful
| animals.