The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-03-02
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GAIUcAsIA 2.IDwTTTtA IsTERNA-
TIof'AA EXPOSITION - DEPARTMENT
OF PuBLlcTY AND PRoMorfoN J
weekly Circular Letter-.No, l0l

sition few days ago which furnished an
interesting commentary on its interna-
tional character, and which established
In an unmistakable manner the fact that
this great fair follows, in many respects,
the lines laid down by its illustrious
predecessor on the shores of Lake Michi-
gan, and that at the same time, ii pos
esses an individuality which will give it
a prominent place in the future history
Of the expositions Of the world.
One of tho most prominent ooncess-
ional features OF the exposition has been
the Wild Animal Arena where Colonel
q. Daniel Boone has been giving per-
Sormances with lions and other animals,
which is said by those who have seen
both to surpass the famous show given
by Hagenbeck on the Midway in Chi
cago. Boone had an assistant in this
work in the person of Carlo Thieman, q
brave, bold tanner Of lions, who was
only less familiar and less foolhardy, il
ono may use that word, than Boone
himself, in his associations with these
big beasts, But, one night last week,
Thieman entered the den Of the lions to
prepare them for their usual appearance
in the Arena, when suddenly the lights
went out. Parnell, the biggest of the
lions, fearful perhaps Of some danger
which he could not sec, made 8 savage
attack on the keeper. The other lions
fell to with him and poor Thieman was
at their mercy in ia moment. Boone, the
master Of the beasts, forced his way into
the cage with crowbar and beat the
angry lions back, but not until Thienan
had sustained such injuries that his
death followed on the morrow.
1t was Thiemans funeral that fur
nished the commentary at the opening
of this letter. 1t was certainly most
impressive scene. Poor Thieman did
not have relative in all this great
America, but his employer, Boone, was
his warm personal frienl and all who
worked with him admired his courage
and his personality. Thus 1t came about
that the funeral of the lion tanner was
80 notable. 1t took place in the animal
Arena A section of the great iron cage
which shuts off the performing space
from that reserved for visitors, had been
removed, and through this opening the
coffin was carried. A bier had been
made of some of the material which is
used for the lions to do their acts upon,
and here laid the dead tanner in the
midst Of group Of his associates, while
the solemn burial service was read by a
local clergyman.
Every seat in the vast arena was occu-
pied, and there were hundreds who
wanted to get in but could not. On the
back row Of seats, stretching almost
around the auditorium We're Indians
from the Sioux exhibit Each warrior
was in paint and feathers, but their
bows were unstlung, and all carried
themselves with the quiet dignity which
always marks an Indian when cere-
mony is being performed. Near to these
were the Indians from the banks of the
Yaqui river, and a delegation from the
Esquilnau village. Half dozen of the
Turkish dancers had come across the
South Drive to mingle with the crowd
at the funeral. A company Of South
Sea Islanders were there, and quartette
Of native Hawaiian singers furnished
the music for the occasion, singing in
their native tongue words set to old, fa.
miliar hymns. A big Cossack stood
! down in front with his shaggy head
overlapping all his neighbors. Swarthy
Mexicans from the 40 Mining Camp sat,
sombrero in hand and heads bowed
down, and dark-eyed senoritas shed tears
of sympathy as they sat among the
mourners. IL was an Interest ing conf
pany of people and such an one as had
probably never before assembled on a
similar occasion.
A band Of 50 pieces occupied a posi-
tion out Of sight of the audience and its
music came to the ears Of those present
in some lat muffled tone. But there
were other mufied tones that fell upon
the ears Of this funeral gathering during
the exercises, which were neither SO
sweet nor so pleasing, but which brought
q terrible reminder of what had caused
this polyglot assemblage. The yes of
the animals are located under the raised
seats Of the amphitheatre, and the beasts
became restless as the hour for their
usual performance passed by and they
were not summoned 10 play their part
The big lion whose paw had dealt the
fatal blow to poor Thieman, growled
and roared at intervals all during the
clergyman's address, and when the
music Of the band suggested to these
knowing creatures that there was a
crowd in the Arena, they seemed to
unite in chorus OF protest and disap-
proyal. Strong men shuddered at the
suggestion conveyed by these loud
ploutbings, Women shed tears and
some Of them were 80 overcome with
fear and emotion that they passed hur-
riedly out of the auditorium. 1t was a
Ecene that will never be forgotten by
those present
Then came a procession through the
grounds. A Gordon Of guards occupied
Inc right of line. Back Of them marched
the band, alaying a funeral march,
Keeping step to this slow rythm walked
the Indians, the Turks, the South Sea
islanders, and ali tho representatives OF
the different concessions, who had
turned out to honor the memory Of the