The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-30
PHOTOGRAPH A LION
The King Of the Forest Wouldn't
Smile and LOOK Pleasant.
He Interrupts Proceedings by Trying 81
Engulf an UDsuspecting Chinaman
The First Operation of the
Kind on Record

he Interrupts Proceedings by Trying
Engulf an UDsuspecttpg Chinaman
The First Operation of the
Kind on Record.
There was a sensation in a Marke
street photograph gallery the other a
ternoon-sensation and lion, says tn
San Francisco Chronicle There ha
been many lions there before, but the
were ordinary social lions. This was
four legged fellow, a big, tawny beas
with a cavernous mouth and a voic
like a fog horn. 1t was Commodore
an eight-year old lion from the Yves
coast of Africa. Though he is men
Der of theatrical troupe, yet, wonder
full to relate, he does not like to hay
his picture taken.
The big brute was carried up int
the gallery in box closed on all sides
A ring had been screwed into the foo
10 which he could be tied. A group o
half a dozen curious people crowded
Into the gallery to see the fun. Their
they all tried to get out at once. Hi
majesty didn't like the way he haC
been jostled IN going up a fight o.
stairs, and when his box was open ht
came out with a jump. His voice ex
pressed satage dissatisfaction as well
as his manner.
He was soon quieted. His fnaste,
stood by. and. coolly pointing at him
ordered him to be still. The lion tanner
had nothing in his hand, vet the
animal crouched. and, though its
great face was wrinkled into a nasty
snarl, allowed itself to be fastened to
the ring.
just then Chinese entered the gal
lery. He came to see the lion. He
only wanted one glance. The lion
leaped toward him with open mouth
and the Chinese fed. He was after
ward found concealed in another
apartment, bat could not be induced
to again approach the operating room
The lion lay down calmly enough
TIL the photographer got to work
When be saw the big one-eyed animal
he must have taken the camera to be
come ziEzagging toward him he
growled ominously. The eyes that
had been sleepy flashed, and his
bushy name stood on end as he reared
his head proudly, awaiting the advance
Of his foe. When the camera came to
rest ne still eyed II suspiciously, every
now and then emitting a rumbling
groWl that made the ladies who had
gathered near the windows OF the
room start back
His attention was soon drawn TO
her-
came up with squeak that brought
him 10 his feet. The first camera was
forgotten in this more aggressive one.
1t was unfortunate that the cameras
were not focused in order to catch his
defiant attitude. The grand head in
its frame of bristling name, the 1.-the
body 50 suggestive of latent power,
l1ade noble picture, in spite of the
chain with which he was incumbered.
\ few words from the trainer put
hum again in q crouching posture. lie
lay quietly enough while the plates
were being changed and half dozen
pictures were taken. A big hashlight
photograph was then suggested. The
powder was put in the little pans of
the framework. Behind each pan was
fame Of gas. 1t was thought best to
move this frame of lights to the other
side of the camera.
I'm attendant picked it mp. The lion
had become so quiet that the man dis
regarded him. He started with his
frame of lights between tire lion and
the camera. His back was toward the
Elowerirg beast. He did not see the
lion gather himself slowly together.
II he had he would not have gone on
with his work SO quietly. The animals
lower jaw dropped. his nose curled
back, exposing his curving teeth: his !
whole appearance was one of anger. !
Then: Waugh
The lion leaped to the end of his /
short chain with a mighty roar. It l
was short and quick, but deep-5o deep |
hat even those who were anticipating I.
.t were startled. The man with the /
hashlight frame was not startled. |
though. The expression fails TO indi-
cate his sensation. lie was scared.
Scared badly too The jump he made
put out all the lights on the frame and /
would have insured him a place as an
acrobat with any circus in the land.
After the 1ashight picture had been
aiken the lion was loosed. lie did not
want To bit, but he went back into
he cage just the same Then SIX men
carried it to the top of the stairs and it
vas slowly lowered. This is thought
% have been the first time a full
Erown lion was ever taken into a gal