The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-06
TRAINED LIONS RAVE
HAGExBEck.s BEASTS CREATE A
SENSATION IN CINCINNATI.
Audience witnesses Savage Assault
by a Lion and Tfser-The Animals
VIII Arrive Here To-Day.

CINCINNATI, o., Jan. 5-The spectators
al the Hagenbeck show experienced sew
eral thrills last night, and at one time there
was reason to expect that they would be
witnesses of a tragedy. For some reason,
not known to the average OF the audience.
the animals We're very unruiy. the riding
tiger and one of the Darling lions being
especially SO. These not overly amiable
brutes were seemingly at their worst, and as
the first mentioned came into the great iron
ring she made vicious slap at the huge
boar-hound that accompanied her, and her
lady trainer, with Mr.. Philadelphia at her
back. experienced great difficulty in get
ting her to mount the horse in proper shape.
The horse, a large, beautiful chestnut
though we'll protected as to his ears neck
and back, by heavy paddings. and well
spiked wire and metal covering, appeared Ill
at ease. for more than once the savage
beast upon his back gnawed and bit at the
trappings, and In other ways manifested
SO ugly a disposition that the fair trainer
as we'll as the audience, seemed disturbed
in mind. Finally, as the hurdle act was
begun. the tiger suddenly turned upon the
boar-hound, and for moment or two it
looked as though 1t was all over with the
dog. The keepers whip however. brought
the monster cat to it's senses, and, with a
cred shelf. or bracket, at the side OF the
cage, loosening it's props and nearly turn-
bling with it TO the floor. The dog then
came In for a second clawing. the tiger
pounce upon rat, and the fur flew thick
and lively for second or two.
sa linen hit 1t was Was seen as Mr. Darling had
Or tissr, TIE one Of VI. Phiiadeiphia.s
scratched and torn, like very Coward
For twenty, minutes this excitement was
easier when horse, tiger, dog and trainers
were all out of the ring. though be it
her task in hand and Mift that III in the end
the tiger received decidedly the worst Of
OF the evening was Mr.. Darlings encounter
with one of his huge African lions. AS the
Big Dig ir ron gates swung open the four mon
was placed in readiness. and one OF the lions
to Jump through it's burning circle. This
f even the lion prepared to do. but Mr..
enough mounted one of the pedestals on
which 1t was intended the lion should alght,
and thus disturbed by. an. obstacle I'M
expected. the. animal refused to make the
leap. Now Mr. Darling brushed his whip
at the dog. but he declined to leave the
returned again, just as unexpectedly as
upon the first occasion, repeating his silly
act again and again, until the lion
thoroughly confused that he turned abrupt
ly from his task and began a wild scamper
about the ring Then Mr.. Darng's great
lung whip came into play and under it's
biting force the lion became enraged and
turned upon him. 1t was a critical moment
and had the man hesitated for an instant
he would certainly have been roughly
dealt with. Not moment did he falter
however, and the terrible whip powed its
way into the lions flank, each crack
sounding like the report Of a pistol
The monster covered against the side Of
the cage, emitting the most threatening
growls, then darling at Mr.. Darling, only
to be driven back again with his sides
punctured by the terrible lash of that long
and torture-inflicting whip. Twice he
plunged wildly around the ring. to be- fol-
lowed and well whipped by his keeper,
then coming to bay down near one of the
boxes. The audience sat spellbound as the
daring man, with lash after lash, cowed
him into submission, and drove him
through the still burning hoop.
Such scene was never before witnessed
has seldom been heard in theater, but it
was insignificant by comparison with the
volume of sound that greeted Mr.. Darling
when. but second afterwards, he COM
PEELED all of the monsters, including the
vicious one, to lay upon the floor. and
threw himself fiat upon his back across
their bodies.
Such a scene was never before witnessed
in theater, and Mr.. Darling will long be
hero in the membranes OF those per-
mitted to witness his daring.