The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-13
Observation-Disclosures
WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY ARE NOT
DANGEROUS.

James A. Bailey Says Any One Can SAFELY
Enter and Leave a Cage Full of Lions and
Tigers, and Any Man Who Knows the
Cues Can Put Them Through Their Acts.
Said Mr.. James A. Bailey recently:
SIT is the general belief all over the
world that man who goes into den
of wild carnivorous beasts takes his life
in his hands. and that each time he
does so and escapes unframed he has
won by lucky chance. Some persons
believe that if the trainer who handles
the animals in their acts were to turn
his back upon them for single instant
they would leap upon and devour him.
Others again believe that the lions and
tigers only wait an opportunity Tor
concerted action to destroy their keep
or, while there are still others who de-
clare that it is only through the power
of the human eye that the beasts are
held in subsection. To all of these
opinions and beliefs and as final an
swer to all questions on the subject 1
wish to state here and now that there
Is no danger whatever to any person en-
statement, however, will scarce be be-
lieved without some further explana-
tion and proof
'It is a fact that many men have
been manned and some killed by lions
and tigers in menageries and geological
gardens throughout the world, but IN
every case, I venture to say, the causes
leading to such accidents and deaths
were of their own making. Unmerited
or too severe punishment is the most
frequent cause Nearly all animals, no
matter how small and insignificant,
will turn and fight when oornered and in
fear of their lives. A cat will make
desperate and determined fight IL so
placed that it cannot escape from what
It believes is dangerous enemy. just
so with larger cat animals. And nearly
all of the accidents that have occurred
have been brought about by the brutal
ity of trainers who, having lost temper,
have pursued to extremes an animal
that did not understand what was want
ed of it. Trainers of the present day,
however, have come to realize this, and
accidents are of rare occurrence And l
maintain that any man or woman, an
entire stranger to the animals, can go
in with them and in perfect safety.
ga case in point comes to my mind
A few years ago employed an innocent
sort of German to work in the menag-
erie, and one of the first tasks assigned
to him was cleaning the lions den. In
stead of taking an iron scraper and
working through the bars as custom
airy, he took broom. opened the iron
door, went in the cage and began to
sweep the floor. When lion got in his
way, he would punch it with the broom
and tell it in German to got away, a..
1t did so. The man repeated his expert
ence every day and was never harmed.
Inow make this positive statement
that in both the handling aid training
of these animals there is no more dan
ger than attends the training of a do
mestic animal. The snarling and growl-
ing of the beasts are no more indicative
of a desire to claw and devour than is
expressed in the bark or snarl Of a Ca
nine house pet or the hiss of sleek
tabby when its tail is stepped upon.
The big brutes may growl and crouch
about their cages, look dangerous and
act ferociously and all that, but con-
tend, and experience has taught me
that my belief is correct, that it is only
through desire to escape from the man
rather than to attack him.
"It takes time and patience, more
than any one not in the business can
imagine, to perfect the training of these
animals, and every trainer has meth
cd of his own. would further explain
that trained animals will not perform
the tricks taught them until the cue is
given them. Even trained horses, which
are supposed to have great intelligence,
will only go through their performances
when the ringmaster supplies the cue,
whatever it may be. Sometimes it is a
motion of the whip, at others step
backward or forward, when instantly
the animal will respond. Now, all that
is necessary for any one to put through
his performances any kind of trained
animal or number of them is for him tc
know when to give the proper cue.
''I do not believe the animals know
one trainer from another unless one
has been with them for long time, fol
when some of my trainers have beer
taken sick, been discharged or for Other
causes have left my service the trained
animal part of my show has not beer
interrupted, but has gone on just the
same, new man having been substitute
ed, and it is safe to say that the ami
mails never knew the difference between
the men. ! have changed the men as of
ten as five times in season, and one
man has put the beasts through theil
tricks quite as well as another. Any
person who will enter the arena fear
lessly and confidently can take the
trainers whip and make the animals
perform as well as a person who has
handled them for months, provided al
ways he knows what tricks the beasts
are required to do and can supply the
cues.
81 am aware that this statement may
appear to most people extraordinary, be
cause it is at variance with their precon
ceived notions concerning the brutal
nature of all wild beasts, but am firm
in my belief and have no hesitation in
making IL nublic NAV York SyYif