The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-07
MR.. HAGENBECK'S FAMILY.
Baby Elephant, Lions, Tigers, Dogs,
Horses, and All i'm Town.

Restless, roaring lions, stealthy, savage
tigers and troops OF performing monkeys
and dogs occupy the stage Of English's
Opera House. The scenic world has given
place to a veritable jungle of wild beasts
that represent the life work of Carl
Hagenbeck The novel exhibit arrived in
Indianapolis at noon yesterday from Gin
cnnati. A train of twelve cars drew into
the Big Four yards at that hour and from
] until o'clock last night the work of
removing the contents of the cars went on.
The very first member of Hagenbeck's In
teresting family to step from the train was
the baby elephant, whose broad back fur
nishes a luxurious saddle for one of Prof
Darlings ferocious lions. The elephant
with school of Shetland ponies and
Arabian horses, were sent to a livery stable
near the theater. where they will occupy
quarters during the week. All of the other
animals, including the lions tigers. leopards,
boar-hounds and reptiles. were transported
to the theater. AT O'Clock last night they
We're turned into the big ironscage that oc-
cupies the entire stage. When ready for
the exhibition the combined weight of the
menagerie, including the cage. Is sixty tons.
To bear this ponderous burden the stage
has been securely braced and every pre-
caution taken to prevent accidents. The
animals and fifty-two people who assist the
entertainment in various capacities. A
band of eighteen pieces is carried with the
show. Many of the trainers and keepers
were on the stage yesterday afternoon,
mingling with the animals and watching
the construction of the big cage. Nellie
Sadie Sackontala, the little blonde lady
who experienced thrilling brush with a
tiger while performing a. Cincinnati Fri
day. was about the theater apparently
none the worse for her adventure. Prof.
Darling, the trainer and keeper of the
three immense lions, present when his
savage pets were. removed from their ship
ping quarters, and carefully watched every
detail of the work. Prof. Darling observes
every varying mood of these animals, and
every available moment of his extra time
Is spent in companonslnp with the beasts.
There are but three products of America
with the Hagenbeck exhibit Columbus. :"
vicious but brilliant stallion, picked
up in Chicago year ago. and the two
leopard Kittens whose dimnutive propor-
light the young people, were born in Madi-
son-square Garden six months ago. When
Columbus" was purchased by Hagen
peCks manager the great German trainer
said that II was useless to attempt to make
anything out of an American animal. The
subsequent clever work of the horse, how
ever, has convinced the proprietor of his
error regarding equine intelligence in Amer
lea.
To keep the animals fat and glossy and in
a tolerable humor Ii requires six hundred
pounds of meat daily. Each morning. ex-
and liver but on Saturday are given moth
ing but milk. The keepers say this tactical
diet IS necessary TO the health and DISPOSE
ton of the beasts. Press Agent John DAILY
says that there are a number OF pension
ers, daily dependent upon the show, men
and women who have at some time received
serious injury while in the employ or
Hagenbeck. Whenever a performer is hurt
while in the performance of his duty he is
given some light employment, If able to
work, but is never dismissed from verv.ce
If the injury is too serious to admit OF
further travel with the show the sNferer
is thereafter supported by Hagenbec\ 1t
is the plan of the proprietor TO send his
exhibit into every city OF prominence in
America. While he does not expect to
realize "A great profitable revenue from an
American tour. Ii is his idea to give the
people an opportunity OF witnessing the
result OF his laDors In the animal world.