The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-08
THEY ARE DANGEROUS PETS.
= TRAINERS LIFE SPENT AMONG
WILD ANIMALS.


Felix Mcdonald Relates His Expert
ences-fIosv the Confidence Of Lions
l. Obtafned-Sarrov Escapes From
DcaCi-Scarclty OF Tigers.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
Felix Mcdonald was born I'm the town
OF Formaua, Inniskillen county, Ireland.
in the year 1871. and Is consequently "a
years OF age, although to judge from his
rudy complexion and general appear
ance, the ordinary observer would be of
the opinion that AIcDonald was not that
age by ten years. and when it Is taken
into consideration that he has for the
greater portion of the nifty four years
mentioned been in more or less close con-
tact with the ferccst beasts Of the desert
and jungles of the old world his apparent
youth seems all the more a matter OF curl
osity. 1t must not be surmised, however.
that his intimacy with the denizens Of the
forest was born or desire to control the
lions and tigers on their native heath and
herd them as one would sheep. but rath-
er from the force Of circumstances or a
natural law of the world which compeIs
mento do things which, had they had the
choosing, might not have been the voca-
ton selected. In this instance, possibly,
heredity may have had something to do
with the making Of AIR. Mcdonald a man
Of tents ana incidentally a lion tanner. At
present the gentleman is a resident Of
this city, arriving in the metropolis with
the now departed Wombwell, show, but
severing his connection with the aggre-
cation some time ago is now on the look
out for more lions to master, and Incl
dentaliy has weather eye on the possible
inauguration of q ZOO" in this city.
To reporter Mr.. Mcdonald discoursed
on the subject OF his profession.
Yes, have been handling wild animals
for a good many years, and notwithstand-
ing the tales Of the terrible ferocity and
biood-thirsty nature Of beasts in general
l am still here, and. barring accidents
feel as IL l may remain On the earth for
some time to come. A great many people
when speaking Of lions and tigers do so
with a trifie of reverence and a bit more
of fear. 1t seems to be a popular idea
that q man cannot follow the business Of
training lions fer any period without be
ing torn to pieces a dozen times or more,
and eventually sacrificing his life as a
penalty for his temerity, and yet, while
this is undoubtedly a contingency which
may crop up at any time, it has not yet
in my case.
Il have been in the show business since
/ was four years of age. My father was
an acrobat, and, with myself, and two
older brother, did the 'riZzley' business
for the people of England until 1 was
nearly 16. when I gave up the circus
business and studied for two years in a
veterinary college. BY 'rizzley,' / mean
that father lay prone on his back and
tossed us in the air with his feet. When
l thought that had enough of the school
1 went to Yorkshire and began training
dogs for the circus, and achieved consid-
cradle success IN this line. Continuing at
this for some time. / finally joined the
animal show of Mrs Edmunds, late
Wombwen 1t was shortly after this time
that 1 began to work the animals and
prepare myself for the vocation which l
have followed ever since Working ami
mails means that the brutes are to be
trained for performances, either by them
selves or with human beings, who enter
the cages and put the animals through
the PAGES they may have acquired during
the period they have worked.
Il suppose my success in this depart
ment was not at all peculiar but some
how or another l secured good results
when others had signally failed. Some
time after this 1 went to Spain and other
parts of the continent with group of
lions and tigers, and in 1867 came to
America with a den of performing lions
with the Flatfoot party Some times after
this l was engaged to travel with Bar
nun and had full charge Of the menagerie
when the show made its trip to Europe.
During my stay in this country l also
had charge Of the zoo department of the
Forepaugh and John Robinson shows,
and had full control of the animals, tram
ing them for single and double perform
ances and a variety of tricks which seem
really marvellous, considering the nature
Of the beast.
"Tbe business requires a firm hand, a
clear head and a fairly good judgment
and a good quantity OF GOODNESS combined
with the rest Animals appear to recoS-
nize the fact that man is their natural
master just 50 Ions as they are made to
feel so. This requires great deal OF pa
tience and it must not be imagined that
the training of a lion, or, in fact
any other beast, is a matter of speedy
contamination. on the contrary, 1t fire.
ouently takes months Of perseverance 10
accustom a lion or tiger to the presence
of the trainer within his cage. The meth
cd usually employed to bring about the
entente cordiale is TO gain the confidence
III the animal by slow degrees. The
trainer passes considerable Of his time
in the neighborhood Of the cage, and In
the course. of time enters the cage, but
with secure iron barrier between him
self and the lion, if SUCH the animal be
The barrier is removed in the course OF
a few days, and the trainer sits in the
rear of the den, not attempting TO moles
the beast and always on the lookout fol-
the first hostile movement OF his majesty
The lion gradually becomes accustomed
to the presence Of the trainer and PAGES
to and fro in front of him. Then The
trainer gently touches the hairy side ci
the brute, at first eiciting a discourag
ing growl but this antagonism departs
after a time and the trainer is luen in g
position to work the beast without fear
of evil result. The confidence Of tht
beast is secured and retained as a rule
Lions captured when fully grown are
always intractable, and can never be-
trusted. much less worked This class
are used for the purpose Of breeding in the
zoo. Cubs captured while Comparatively
young make the best performers, and
the trainer usually secures much better
results than from the cubs born and
raised in captivity This owing 10 the
fact that the little lions born in the dens
are fondled and peted and thus get ar
idea of their own Importance which car
hardly ever be eradicated. The use ot
the whip is required and they become
more irritable as they grow older and
are less to be trusted. The lions arc