The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-03-07
MIpwINTER EAlR.

sition few days ago which furnished an
interesting commentary on its interna-
tional character, and which established
in an unmistakable manner the fact that
this great fair follows, in many respects,
the lines laid down by its iIlustrious
predecessor on the shores of Lake Michi-
gan, and that at the same time, it pos
esses an individuality which will give it
a prominent place in the future history
of the expositions Of the world.
One of the most prominent concess-
ional features of the exposition has been
the Wild Animal Arena where Colonel
E. Daniel Boone has been giving per-
formances with lions and other animals,
which is said by those who have seen
both to surpass the famous show given
by Hagenbeck on the Midway in Chi
cago. Boone had an assistant in this
work in the person of Carlo Thieman, a
brave, bold tanner of lions, who was
only less familiar and less foolhardy, if
one may use that word, than Boone
himself, in his associations with these
big beasts. But, one night last week,
Thieman entered the den of the lions to
prepare them for their usual appearance
in the Arena, when suddenly the lights
went out. Parne1, the biggest of the
lions, fearful perhaps of some danger
which he could not see, made a savage
attack on the keeper. The other lions
fell to with him and poor Thieman was
at their mercy in moment. Boone, the
master of the beasts, forced his way into
the cage with a crowbar and beat the
angry lions back, but not until Thieman
had sustained such injuries that his
death followed on the morrow.
| It was Thieman's funeral that fur
nished the commentary at the opening
of this letter. 1t was certainly most
impressive scene. Poor Thieman did
not have a relative in all this great
America, but his employer, Boone, was
his warm personal friend, and all who
worked with him admired his courage
and his personality. Thus 1t came about
that the funeral of the lion tanner was
so notable. It took place in the animal
Arena. AEsection of the great iron cage
which shuts off the performing space
from that reserved for visitors, had been
removed, and through this opening the
coffin was carried. A bier had been
made of some of the material which is
used for the lions to do their acts upon,
and here laid the dead tanner in the
midst of group of his associates, while
the solemn burial service was read by
local clergyman.
Every seat in the vast arena was occu-
pied, and there were hundreds who
wanted to get in but could not. On the
back row of seats, stretching almost
around the auditorium were Indians
from the Sioux exhibit. Each warrior
was in paint and feathers, but their
bows were unstrung, and all carried
themselves with the quiet dignity which
always marks an Indian when cere-
mony is being performed. Near to these
were the Indians from the banks of the
! Yaqui river, and delegation from the
Esquimau village. Half dozen of the
! Turkish dancers had come across the
South Drive to mingle with the crowd
at the funeral. A company of South
Sea Islanders were there, and quartette
of native Hawaiian singers furnished
| the music for the occasion, singing in
their native tongue words set to old, IA
miIiar hymns. A big Cossack stood
down in front with his shaggy head
overtopping all his neighbors. Swarthy
Mexicans from the '49 Mining Camp sat,
sombrero in hand. and heads bowed
down, and dark-eyed senoritas shed tears
of sympathy as they sat among the
mourners. IG was an interesting COM
pany of people and such an one as had
probably never before assembled on
similar occasion.
| A band of so pieces occupied a posi-
ton out of sight of the audience and its
music came to the ears of those present
| in somewhat muffled tone. But there
were other muffied tones that fell upon
the ears of this funeral gathering during
/ L - Il
sweet nor SO pleasing, but which brought
terrible reminder of what had caused
this polyglot assemblage. The cages of
the animals are located under the raised
seats of the amphitheatre, and the beasts
became restless as the hour for their
usual performance passed by and they
were not summoned to play their part.
The big lion whose paw had dealt the
fatal blow to poor Thieman, growled
and roared at intervals all during the
clergyman's address, and when the
music of the band suggested to these
knowing creatures that there was
crowd in the Arena, they seemed to
unite in a chorus of protest and disap
proval Strong men shuddered at the
suggestion conveyed by these loud
mouthings. Women shed tears and
some of them were so overcome with
fear and emotion that they passed hur-
riedly out of the auditorium. 1t was
scene that will never be forgotten by
! those present.
Then came a procession through the
grounds. A Gordon of guards occupied
the right of line. Back of them marched
the band, playing a funeral march.
Keeping step to this slow rythm walked
the Indians, the Turks, the South Sea