Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-06-27
Nirgiuia FREE grsss.
WV. b. GALLAHER, Editor.
CharIesto,cn, Jefferson County, WestV
June 81, 1894.
Something About the Cost Of Wfid Ani-
mails.

A veteran of the circus, one who has
imported many wild animals, said 10 a
reporter for the New York Times, in
speaking of the dethronement of forest
and jungle monarchs, that it began when
Gordon Cumming shot lions with as
much nonchalance and far more comfort
and cleanliness than slaughterers kill pigs
nowadays.
"Within the last few years." he said,
"royal Bengal tigers, black-maned lions,
My lord, the elephant, all the varieties
of the big cats and pachyderms, and the
great apes, are shipped to and fro by the
animal dealers and bought by the menag-
erie men with as much uncOncern as il
they were white rats or pink.eyed rabbits.
Dealing in wild animals, in fact, has
long ago been reduced to the same busi'
ness basis as dealing in blooded and do
mestic stock. The prices for such beasts
as lions, tigers and elephants are far less
variable than those for dogs and horses.
While collie like Pierpont Morgan's Sef-
ton Hero, or a st. Bernard like Sir Bedi-
we're, will fetch anything from $4,000 up,
well.grown, clean and healthy lion need
not feel sighted if he is sold for $500,
while 81 200 is about his topmost limit in
the market. The same prices hold good
with tigers.
"The elephant, as a sturdy laborer that
will more than earn his own keep and
lodging, has a constant value all the world
over, according to his size, age, weight,
good manners and intelligence. A we'll
trained, docile animal will fetch as much
as $4,000 in this country or Europe. The
lowest price for a respectable 'tusker' is
1900"
The radiating centre Of the wild ami
NAL business in this country is the Bar
mum & Bailey menagerie, the proprietor;
of which purchase more wild stock than
all the other buyers in the United States
and every year sell to the smaller travel
ing showmen over $4,000 worth of ami
mails not suitable for metropolitan exhi
bition.
James a. Bailey, the axle around which
the big circus spins so smoothly, know:
more about wild beasts than half doz
en- natural histories rolled into one, with
all the encyclopedias thrown in. His es
pecial pets are the big cats. "a Snowman
cannot invest in anything better" he said
ethan in the cat tribe. The average lift
of lion or tiger in confinement is twelve
years. Some old stagers, though, seem
to thrive on trans-continental tours and
one-night stands, There are lions in thi'
country to-day that TO my knowledge, are
very near their thirtieth birthday. More
over, lions and tigers breed well in con
finement, and you may figure very neal
that healthy ligress will give you eigh
cubs. Leopal 5 and panthers are not 81
prolific. They generally kill their cubs
too, as soon as born.
"The weak spot in the cat tribe is thti
breathing apparatus. A draughty cage
and, presto your lions and tigers ar
food for worms. They catch pneumonia
from 4 draught that man with one lunI
wonld sneer at. and the trouble is the,
never get over it.
Elephants Yes, barring the fact tha
elephants are beginning TO pail somewba
/ on the public taste, they are as good in