Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-01-20
IN A TIGERS JAWS.


Trying Emergency.
In one of the cages in the circus par
adc on Thursday were n lion and Il
tiger The beasts, especially the tiger.
were fine specimens of their kind. In
the same cage was the trainer. sitting
in apparrnt uncunccrn. After the
performance was over in the after
noon. in advertising the concert. which
Immediately followed. il WIS announC-
cd that Prof. Reed. the lion tanner
would at the close 20 into the den i'll
which he rode with til" lion and tiger
in the morning and would feed them
fresh meat from his own hands. To
show the perfect Subicction of the
beasts It waS done rs advertised.
The beasts. however. were not in good
humor and Snarlrd. showing their teeth
and laShing their tails as meat was
handed to them.
When the trainer. in carrying: ont
the programme. took Il pirc" Of meat
in his mouth and held ii out for the
tiger, the great cat Sprang forward
partly against the trainer. knocking
him backward and getting only Il por-
tion of the meat. Quick as though' il
made IL second spring. this time not for
beef but human blood. 1t struck til"
trainer on the right arm and breast
with one of its great claws. tearing
through his clothing and flesh. inti ct
ing seven deep @aShcS in the tirShy
part of his arm. The other claw struck
his hip. tearing off the clothing. while
its terrible Jaws closed over the train
cr'S arm just below the elbow. The
man never moved Il muscle nor for Il
moment took his eyes from those of
the tiger. whose savage nature was be
ginning to assert itself: its tail dashed
its great striped sides and its eyes
flashed fire. The nerve of the trainer
saved his life. He called to the attcn-
dantS near. Bring the scraprrS." all
the time keeping his eye fixed on that
of the beast and talking in Il low tone
to it.
1t seemed an age but it was but Il
few seconds. before two attendants.
half dead with fear. thrust the iron
rods through the cage against the sides
of the tiger The beast. whom the
trainer. pinoncd as he was. still had
partly under control. looSrd his hold
and crouchrd back in his cage. while
the man backed slowly from the cage
As the door shut the tiger gave an
angry yrowl. jumped forward. but the
bars had closed. The lion showed
great excitement and roared furiouSly.
The trainers life was saved. \ great
sigh of relief went up from tn" excited
crowd. women tainted. and men Strug-
glrd to get from the tent. The trainer
was conducted to DR.. Morrow. who
dressed his wounds He WAS very
weak and faint from pain and the ter
rib!r strain of the ordeal through which
he had passed. hut bore the operation
without tlincliny. His arm was badly
laccratrd from the shoulder To the
wrist. Three deep cuts We're made by
the tigers claws in the tlcShy part OF
his arm. and seven gaSheS. made by
the beasts teeth just below. prnrtrat-
ed deep into his arm, large enough to
insert Il mans thumb. After his
wounds We're dressed he went to the
hotel. He passed Il very restless night.
and left for his home in Au>tinburg.
O. His name is Henry Reed. He has
been training lions and tigers for
twelve years and this is his first acc-
dcnt-Walton Reporter