Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-07-26
MOI MUCH oE A rRlck.
Putting Ones Head In Lions Mouth Less
Dangerous Than 10 Looks.

Putting Ones Head In n Lions Mouth Less
Dangerous Than II Looks.
The old trick Of putting ones head
in q lions mouth was a very simple
feat compared with what the lion
tanner OF to-day has 20 do. An animal
trainer was recently asked what
constituted the greatest risk a
lion tanner entertained in his work. ''lf
you are old enough TO remember" said
the professor, "the days when Van Am
berg and his confreres used 10 go into
lions cage, make them leap over
each other and put their heads in the
mouths Of the lions you viii remember
that the cages in which their beasts
were kept were small ones, and that
the lion tanner rarely moved from a
certain spot. and this was just in front
Of a sliding door. behind which stood
an attendant ready TO open it quickly
in case OF emergency. have spent fif-
teen years OF hard work and earnest
study with lions. think perhaps
with modesty / may be permitted to
say that / have reached tthe stage
where I might be quoted as an authori-
~ and / tell you as a fact that those
feats which years ago were considered
the very essence Of daring as a fact the
easiest thing that lion tanner has to do.
1t is no feat at all TO put ones head in
lions mouth. and, while have never
done IL but once in public, III just
show you how easily il can be done"
The trainer went into the cage with
FIVE beasts, and, without a particle Of
hesitation, grabbed lion, opened his
mouth, and put his head completely in.
There you see how easy IL is" he
explained, as he came ont and smoothed
his hair, which the lions fangs had
tell you how II is done. In the first
place, lion could not bite a man when
his head is In his mouth. The only risk,
IL risk there be, is when the head is
being put in or taken out. The danger
of lion tanning has increased, as IL has
been improved, and the reason is very
apparent. In those old days of which
/ speak all of these acts were per-
formed in very small cage, and
man always faced his beasts
and had In his hand cl.d0el
and a whip. In these days lion
tanners are obliged to perform in a
ring where It Is absolutely impossible
20 keep ones face continually ON the
beasts. Again, the animals, feeling
themselves In a larger space, are more
likely 10 feel their power. and were
they 50 inclined could make rush at
a trainer that II would be next 10 i'm
possible for him TO withstand. have
seen In some recent publication the
statement that lions in a large space
are more docile than they are in the
closer confinement OF course / can
only talk from my fifteen years expert
ence, but this tells me most emphatic
ally that this statement Is false.
"A man required but little training
20 60 into a lions cage fifteen years
ago, whereas to-day he must spend
years Of time in not only perfect
ing his Lions but perfecting himself.
The study Of a wild beast must be
as carefully made as the study Of a hu-
man being, and anyone who goes into
IL win find the characteristics Of the
lions as distinct as the characteristics
Of humans No two men were ever
alike, neither were ever two lions. II
is a study requiring years Of time, and
no one who has not the characteristics
which embrace patience and endurance
should ever attempt 10 deal in any
manner with savage beasts. Yes,
have been injured several times, but
can say truthfully that IL was entirely
my own fault, In each instance I did
something's so absolutely unusual that
the lions resented II and went for me"
boston Traveller