The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-05-03
Girl REPORTERS PLUCK.
She Enters a Gage Of Lions and Subdues
the Kings Of the Forest.
LOOKING DOWN A PAHTHER'S MOUTH.
s'BiE George" the Man.Eater, sur.
prised and Very much Diseen.
cersed by n slip OF n Girl NAL txg
n Pet OF a Leopard.

Meg Merrilies, the New York World re-
porter, has tried almost every variety of
sensation during the last year or two.
Her last adventure as lion tanner, how
ever, Is the most daring she has yet un.
dertaken. One evening, q couple Of
weeks ago. attired as Turkish girl, she
entered the cage with the performing
wild beasts OF Madison Square garden
and assisted Professor Stalder with his
performance. The following is her own
account OF her experience:
Suddenly there was rush past me OF
half dozen clowns, three white horses,
three elephants and about 20 acrobats.
and | knew that the act preceding the ex-
hibition Of the wild beasts had finished.
The inspiring music which the had been
playing to encourage the horses In the
circus ring had stopped and suddenly be-
gan again with what seemed to me a sort
Of doleful funeral dirgs. : l think that the
bandmaster put on a special number for
me, because it sounded different from any
circus music l had ever heard before.
While l was thinking about this one Of
the big doors into the cage opened and in
rushed two lions, followed by leopards
and panthers. Instinctively rushed up
to the other entrance Of the cage and took
my position near the little den where the
bear is confined. l had scarcely reached
the grated door before Professor Stalder,
now all busting with nervous excitement,
snapped open the grating, seized the bear
by the nose, yanked him out OF the cage
aud nodded his head to me. and before
realized il was in the midst OF the beasts,
and the big, steel-grated door had snapped
with a malicious click behind my back.
The band was now playing a cheerful
melody, and gazed out over the enor-
nous expanse OF sawdust arena aud back
ground Of human faces without tremble.
For a moment | forgot my surroundings,
and actually tried to pick out with my
eye two friends who had agreed to wave
white handkerchief from their seats.
But this feverie did not last long.
My thoughts were brought back with
unpleasant suddenness to my companions
in the cage, for the big bear beside me
had craned his neck over in my direction,
and | felt his hot breath on my cheek and
looked around at bis open countenance
just as his huge jaws closed about an inch
from my ear, with q sound like the snap
ping OF steel lock on big bank safe.
Unfortunately took quick step side
ways, away from my shaggy companion.
but only step, for at my side, and in the
rear, came the most frightful hiss ever
heard or dreamed OF. Turning my head
again l found myself gazing into the
squlnted eyes and open mouth OF pam
tber, which was sitting on its launches
and shrivelllng up its upper lip in most
menacing manner. Somehow or other il
struck me as very interesting mouth,
and gazed at the teeth and looked down
his throat with some curiosity. This
seemed. TO discomfort the panther trifls.
and he closed his mouth and opened his
eyes, as l thought, in establishment. This
gave me courage, and remembering my
whip | raised my right hand, ndlooking
savagely at the beast, said, in severe
undertone: What do you mean, sir?
The sound OF my voice evidently reached
the ears OF Big George. the man-eater.
He had been busy with his thoughts Of
the two sheep, which shiyered and trem.
bled within smelling distance Of his nose
and had evidently overlooked the fact that
a stranger was in the cage.
The low growl Of establishment from Dig
George was followed by look OF inquiry
from the other lion, who stood near by
him, and saw the two beasts excbang
ing glances OF amazement. and then, lift.
ing their heads high in the air, they fixed
their horrible yellows eyes upon me.
AS l stared at George, observed him
slowly and deliberately raising himself
up on his four feet, with bis gaze fixed
more and more inteutly upon myself.
Slowly his tail began to culver, and in
another moment he was flashing his sides
with fury. He raised his ears, his mouth
opened, his te ngue curled up in the back
OF his throat-ah, how we'll remember
that glstening red tongue and those
teeth
He seemed to be increasing in size, and
then and there became firmly con-
WINGED that he was reaching the firm de-
termination to attack me, and that with
in minute. at the most distant calcula-
ton, Big George, with single bound.
would be upon me. l still believe that
this was the intention of the lion, and so
fully convinced was that frightened my
uraan on INV whin tool a stan forUord IL,