New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-12
TIGER AND ZEBRA.

History does repeat itself Not III precise
terms. but on broad, general lines. The de-
tails may not be identical, but the salient
features are so familiar the essential facts have
such suggestiyely reminiscent flavor. that we
recognize them N once as occurrences Of what
happened last year or perhaps long ago aS
when Tweed was Boss" We all remember,
for instance how last June an immense audi
cnce from all parts of the country gathered in
an enormous woodshcd on the shore Of Lake
Michigan 10 see a fierce and hungry Tiger let
loose and then brought under control, sub
dued tanned and harncssed 70 Il band wagon
The show had been widely advertised. Ancc-
dotes illustrating the animals feroclouS and
carniyorous nature had been disseminated
through the press Only recently he had de-
vastatcd Il whole State had baSked IN the
Capitol and stretched himself at full length
on the bench of the highest court. And men
SAID that if he was crossed at all III anything
at Chicago or anything white and beautiful
and spoteSs like Il Mugwump delegation or
anythng of that kind was shaken at him, he
would make great deal of trouble all through
the country They said it was ten 10 one, if
ANYTHING in the show happened 10 excite his
rage that he would jump off the platform and
deyour several Of the most prominent persons in
the country, after which he would proceed TO
demolish the entire Democratic party and whisk
his tail like a bosom OF destruction over the
whole land. Thousands OF people assembled
and sat under umbrellas in the lealiy shed to
see the show. Bulletins were issued almost
hourly for several days telling how dangerous
the animal was and what carnage would fol-
low any attempt TO do anything with him eX-
cept feed him.
Professor William Whitney, who IA little
later gained great fame as the :" Fool Killer"
was there with only an ordinary head of hair,
simple yc-glasses and unobtrusive civilians
dress Though not advertised rs such he was
there in the capacity of Tiger Tanner. Several
days were occupied with devices for cxasperat-
ing the animal. The Chicago newspapers made
fun of him and stuck pins into him, and the
mercantile community Of that town PIT up
prices on his victualS and drink. People in the
show gnyed him and shouted at him, and lot
Of Ant-Snlprcrs, so-called. peltcd him with
paper and spitballs and occasionally touched
off frecracker under him. Then Mr.. Bouric
Cochran told the audience how smooth and
vclvcty he was If he was only we'll fed and
stroled the right way, but what fearful tenn
per and destructive nav he had if reused BY
opposition. In his most impressive manner he
said he would not care to be responsible for
the consequences if the animal got reused
Along toward morning, in the midst of ter
rife thunderstorm, when cveiybody's feelings
had been worked up to the highest pitch they
let the animal out, and "Professor' Whitney
with very little exeltion hanesscd him, put
n bride on him. hitched him to band wagon
with all sorts of instruments in it playing all
sorts Of tunes and things exploding at inter
vals. and drove him round as il he was only
an ordinary working mule. And the animal
didn't even switch his smooth and velvety
tail lie just tucked it and pulled while Will
lam drove. 10 was great show. but many
of the audience said it was fake y and that
the animal never was dangerous.
That was when the Tiger went West. The
other night there was quite similar show in
Madison Square Garden. The Zebra came
East. A wild and untamcd Zebra. A Zebra
of the most ferocious character, which had fed
On many leading citizens of the Western States,
had dcvoured and easily digested animal tanners
in full uniform with all their buttons on, and