St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-04
THE TRAINING OF BEASTS.
THE METHODS PURSUED BY KARL
HAGENBEcK, THE KING.
GREAT FIRMNEss REQUIRED.

Kindness Will Eventually Make
Piayfel1ows of the Most Fero-
cious Administrators Told by
One Who Has Had World of
Experience With the Different
Varieties.
Few of those people who go to a
menagerie realize what an immense
undertaking it is to transport wild
beasts from the land of their birth and
! of their freedom to the land of their i'm
eprIsonment, and, too frequently, of their
death, says writer in McClare's Maya
zine.
-, do animals ever attempt to escape
while being transported" was asked of
Karl Hagenbeck, the king of animal
trainers.
well, not Often" replied he; "but,"
he added. with hearty laugh of Tecol-
lection, Il remember that once, in 1870,
OF which have just been telling you,
the whole of the ostriches, twenty-six
in number. ran away just as we were
getting them into the railway station at
Suakim.
Away they went, heading straight
for the desert. | never was in such a
dreadful fix in my life. At last 1t struck
me that 1t would be good plan to drive
all the goats and camelS toward them;
We did so. and when the oStriches saw
them advancing, they formed them
selves into a flock, and we drove the
whole lot into the station. The birds
were caught one by one and put into
the cars.
"On another occasion l was Journey
Ing through SueZ with a giraffe, which
for five months had been living in the
German consul's garden. was leading
1t to the station. when it suddenly took
fright and ran away. For four long,
weary miles l hung onto the wretched
beast, but at last was obliged to drop
the rope and let it go. a smart little
Nubian boy then took up the chase; he
got hold OF the rope and eventually tied
it round tree, and after while we
led the animal quietly back to the sta
ti0n.
But one of the most
ALARMING ADVENTURES
that ever overlook Inc while was trans
porting animals was that which oc-
CURED once when twelve elephants
broke away from me and rushed
through the streets of Vienna. The
whole twelve had been deposited in a
depot, where they had to rest for two
days. l was taking six of the elephants
TO lead them to the station, and when
my back was turned, and | was engaged
with these six elephants, the other six
stealthily and quietly pulled up the iron
rings by which they were fastened to
the ground. trumpeted loudly, and, be-
fore l knew what had happened, the
twelve animals were rushing through
the streets of Vienna.
Sat last, after a long chase, I caught
the biggest elephant and led it to the
station; the others followed him quietly
enough. But my troubles were not
over yet, for l hardly got the first four
into railway van when the others be-
gan to howl. The four elephants in the
train plunged and kicked about, and at
last they broke their ropes and ran out
Of the van, followed by all the others,
into the open streets.
rc't Then began another hunt up the big,
fashionable streets, down little courts
and alleys, once after one which ran in
to a big shop, all over big park; and
this went OH for three hours, until at
last, greatly to my relief, got them
safely into the station and packed into
the vans for their journey.
~. WILD ANIMALS ABOARD SHIP.
perhaps the most difficult part of
transportation, Notwithstanding all the
adventures l have had on land. is the
getting the big animals on board ship. ]
lake elephants for instance. They are
placed in barges and then they are
Slung up in big sings on the steamer.
This is very difficult and very anX-
ious work, for very often they are
killed by the breaking of their necks or
legs. And then again, once they are
on board ship, it is very difficult to
bring elephants alive to Europe. They
suffer dreadfully from seasickness and
cannot eat. Some of them are put be-
tween decks and some of them have
stablea fitted up for them on deck.
Il was once bringing home a full
grown alligator" continued Mr.. Hagen
beck, smiling at the thought of the adj
venture of which he was about to tell
me, land l was travelling on passen-
ger ship. One morning a most amusing
incident occurred, but one which, all the
same, might have been attended with
serious consequences. l had paid my
usual morning visit to my travelling
companion, and had seen TO his supply
of food and water, and having assured
myself that he was quite comfortable
and well looked after, | retired to my
cabin to lie down, the day being very
hot.
Suddenly heard a great tramping
overhead and the screaming of women
and children. 1 could not think what
was tue matter. so l ran up on deck; as
l went l passed number of people
rushing down the companion way. The
male passengers were on the captains
deck; the sailors were elm bling the rig
ging as fast as they could.
The deck was perfectly clear. In
the midst of the empty deck stood my
alligator, the innocent cause OF this
sudden commotion, with gently smiling
jaws, looking wonderingly on. After
good long time and much difficulty
got the beast into his own habitatioh."
TRAINING OF WILD BEASTS
1t is told of the mad king of Bavaria
| that be used frequently to command
great theatrical entertainments at
| which he himself was the only spec
tator. a similar experience befeII my
self when was visiting Hamburg. For
Karl Hagenbeck, at my special request,
and with great good nature, gave two
full performances in my honor, at
which, like the mad Bavarian monarch,
l was the only spectator.
My readers will imagine a great circle
carefully rallied off from the outside
world by iron bars. Round this circle,
upon a number of little stands, sat the
performing animals, waiting to take
their respective ''turns," as they say in
the music halls; in the midst of the cir
Gle sat myself, with beautiful little
baby lion ON my knee, which amused
| itself by playing with my watch chain
and handkerchief.
Two little tigers, which got tired of
sitting still, suddenly jumped down
from their perches and ran up to play
| with me and the baby lion. A young
lion on another perch yawDed so loud
that we all. animals and men, looked up
to see what was the matter. Mr.. hagen
beck walked around the circle, stroking
the animals, most of which affection
ately kissed him as he passed.
A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE.