The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-29
-.
sUBDUlNG WILD BEASTS.

SUBDUlNG WILD BEASTS ~--'-
Tho Special Dangers OF tho Tanners OF Lions
and Tigers.
Now and then, for no reason that any
one can find, lion or tiger that has
been doing his duty regularly and we'll
grows suddenly rebellious. Ho will no
longer balance on the big ball, no lon
ger stand unprOtcstingly OH the seesaw
board, no longer ride the horse or lump
tho hurdles. He comes out instead with
plain, pointed, lconino "no' for tho
whole programme and proceeds to get
Square with the game by tearing the
life out of some trainer or groom. Ap-
parently his pride and hato and revenge
are all stirred up together against all
surrounding conditions, and tho people
to whom he has been most obcdient are
the very ones he now desires most to
kill When tanners meet violent death.
1t Is often under ono of these unforeseen
and mexplicablo outbursts Of madness.
But there is another and perhaps
subtler source of danger to tanners.
Everything goes well for two or three
years, and tho tanner, proud of his sue
cess and swelling bunk account becomes
oyerconfident One day no gets a min
from beast or q scratch from a TIGERS
claw. This will happen inevitably, un-
less the greatest watchfuness is en-.
ploycd, and without any vicious intcn-
ton on tho part of the wild beast But
the wound fingers on hand or arm, for
wounds from wild beasts claws or
fangs, however trifling, are long in
healing and very painful Tho member
swells to double it's normal size. The
wound tears open again and again, and
months pass before the man is healed.
The moral effect of such an experience
Is bad. Perhaps another bite or scratch
Is incurred before the old one is quite
well, and after n number of such mis-
haps the tanner, though no will not ad-
nit it, perhaps even to himself, is ant
to become afraid of his animals Then
he has recourse to stimulants to STEADY
his nerves" before going into the ring.
But by this treatment his nerves are not
steadiod; rather they are the more
shaken. And the more ho drinks the
moro unfit he is to face tho danger and
the likclicr to tallo some reckless step
which will result i'll his serious injury
or DEATH for it is undoubtedly fact
that tanners are not infrequently manned
for life, and even killed Such case
was that of the tanner Heigcnrcich, who
was torn to pieces some years ago while
giving an exhibition in Russia. A large
lion sprang upon him and literally tore
his life out before the eyes of the spec
tators. Nothing could be done to save
tho man. Nothing can over be dono in
such case.
Perhaps tho best safeguard against
these dreadful accidents-a safeguard
better than hot irons or rcvolyers- n
ready line of hose, with strong pressure
OF water, which can be turned on at a
moments notice 1t has been found that
a lion struck by powerful stream of
water will drop his bleeding victim
when prodding with iron hooks or SINH
lar measures will only make him hold on
the tighter.
Thus it is absolutely fatal to the
tanner to fall into any fear. AS soon as
he gets the idea that he is going to be
killed he had better give up the work
at once, or the chances arc that he will
be killcd.-Clcvcland Moffett in Nc
Cluro's Magazine