The Portland daily press., 1893-08-11
WOMEN HAVE NERVE.
One of Them Masters an Unruly Lion With
Both Muscle and Looks.

One of Them Masters an Unruly Lion WITH
Both Muscle and Looks.
Few Of those who saw Miss Johnstons
at the evening performance at Hagen
beck's knew that just moment before
she appeared smiling in the arena she
had gone through an experience which
she will never forget. At the perform
ance of the animals she puts lion
through an act in which the animal rides
on the back of horse. The lion is called
Black Prince. He is big black named
animal, and of late he has developed
temper. A week ago he made slash at
Miss Johnstons with his paw, and q
narrowly escaped. Since that time he
has been getting worse, and it requireda
firm hand to make him go through the
performance.
Late yesterday Black Prince came in
contact with another lion called Prince
They Immediately began to fight. For
80 seconds it was battle royal The
powerful brutes struck and bit each 9th
er, and it required the united force of the
trainers to separate them and get each
one into separate cage.
The fight took place very few min
utes before Miss Johnstons' turn came to
go ON and give her performance. There
is door at the back Of the cages and a
narrow pas1ageway that leads into the
big cage in the center Of the arena. tits
the practice Of the performer to stand by
the entrance while the lions are let out
and then to follow them into the per-
forming arena. AS usual, Miss Johnstons
was at her post. TWAS inst before the z
o'clock performance, and the light at the
back Of the cage was dim.
When the door of the cage was opened,
Black Prince sprang out with savage
roar. When he saw Miss Johnston, she
paused for moment. She saw the dan
gerous look IN his eyes and changed the
whip from the right hand to the left.
An iron rod lay on the floor between her
and the angry lion. The situation was
trying. Black Prince crouched ready
for a spring. AS he lowered to the floor
Miss Johnstons bent down. and kept her
eyes on the lion. Not a word was spoken.
A cry would have meant death to the
imperiled woman. Slowly she advanced
toward the iron rod Black Prince saw
the move and knew what was coming.
just an instant before her fingers clutch
ed the rod the lion sprang. But Miss
Johnstons saw him coming, and with a
courage and GOODNESS that make heroes
she sprang close up against the wall Of
the cage, and the brute brushed past her.
Before he could turn she had the rod in
her hand.
The baff1ed brute turned with savage
roar and started for the woman. This
time, armed. she held her ground. The
rod descended with sounding blow on
the head of the brute. For fully two
minutes it was battle for supremacy.
Miss Johnstons won, and driving the
brute into the arena she followed and
smiled to the audience, which applauded
her as though she had just stepped from
her dressing room. Once only during
the performance did the lion show his
temper. That was when he was ordered
to leap from the pedestal to this horses
back. Miss Johnstons was behind him,
and as he was stubborn she struck him
light blow with her whip. The lion
turned fiercely and struck at her, and in
doing SO fell off the pedestal. He crouch
ed to spring, but the daring woman
marched up to him and made him cover
with Chicago Record.