The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-26
BEATING A LION.
SandOw Tells of His Bat
ties With the Royal
Beast.
San Francisco Examiner.

san francisco EXAMINER.
Sandow talks about his proposed
wrestling match with the lion Conn
modore rs composedly as though
the match were over and CommO-
dore had skunk away to his quart
ers defeated.
"You see, I know this beast, the
lion. He is coward. He has
scarcely the courage of the bulldog.
No, not Commodore particularly;
may be as brave rs any other, but
the genus lion is II coward. He will
spring upon me from behind"
"Then this is not Il new expert
ence? 2"
"No. I shall have to turn my
back upon him, for he will not at
tack so long as I look him in the
eye. If he makes long spring, as
he probably will, and have time
to turn, then l will meet him face
to face, and, with one arm at his
throat, will get close to him'
where he cannot use his paws, and
with my right arm about his body
| will throw him backward.
81 he springs from closer quart
rr- it will be just as we'll. He will
spring for my throat either way
for at no time, of course, will my
back he turned squarely toward
him. His paws will touch my
shoulders and | will drop upon my
knee and, So" said the strong man,
going through the form of the bout
as though he would show how he
might play at wrestling with a
child, ESQ he would roll over my
head upon his back in the sawdust,
for | would catch him thus and he
could not help himself. or course
there are many ways of attack,
hut these two are the most likely,
although l have studied them all
and am prepared for any.
"Bahw he continued, II wanted
to fight the lion Parnell to the
death, but they would not allow it
here. | offered to DO so at Il pri-
vate exhibition if there was money
enough in it. or course, there
would he danger in that, Boone
said he could get Il bet of $4,000,
but l said 5O-5,0UO or nothing. |
would not risk my life for less than
that, and he triet. for several days
to raise it, but failed, and it is no
longer secret.
"The lion would have had the
advantage of me with claws and
teeth, of course, but think would
have crushed his bones and broken
his back"
"Ah! 1t is excitement that they
want" said Sandow. The fight
with the l;On would have satisfied
them. For the pleasure Of the
Sultan of Turkey and 10000 Turks
1 met and killed two lions, fresh
from their jungles. fought the
first armed with a knife. For halt
an hour we walked round and
round the circle of IL steel cage, the
lion roaring and lashing himself
hut not until / turned from hin
did he spring, and then l caugh,
his neck upon my arm and plung
ell the knife in his eye, killing hin
instantly. l was torn upon the
hip.
"The second fight took place
three months later, when Ihad full
ly recovered. l met the lion i,
the same place, armed with +;
weapon about two feet long, hav
ing flexible handle with iron
balls upon each end. The figh
lasted three hours, and the back o
my head WAS laid open and m,
lift arm torn to the bone. But
b at the lion to death. 1t wa
, quite Il while before | got an ol
portunity tn strike an effectiv
blow, but that cowed him. I ha
: won when / had struck him on
, good blow. The lion is n coward"