The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-13
& MORGAN'S.
O'BRIEN'S
TRAINING THE TIGER.
Teaching the Royal Beast to Ride a
Horse.
From the Portland Oregonian.

to help fill up some Mondays paper along
with the sermons?" asked Mr. Sells, the
Snowman, of an OregOnian reporter at the
circus last week. IF you do" he con-
tinued. wait here until after the per-
Torrance is over, and everybody has gone,
and you will see how a tiger is taught
to ride a horse, and also how a horse
is taught to let tiger ride him.
Bring over Jess, now, and let's get
this wagon out for that cats lesson"
yelled BILL the boss animal man, TO the
elephants keeper. The latter picked up
his sharp hook and, giving Jess a prod.
said: "Come along now" The big beast
meekly left her hay, and stepping over the
rope, followed her keeper, Tapping her
huge ears and swinging her ridiculously
little tail the while. She took a position
behind the tigers wagon, a couple of
men took hold of the wagon tongue to
steer the vehicle, and the elephants
keeper doubled a gunny-sack and placed
it against the back of the wagon as a
cushion for Jess's trunk. At the word
of command she calmly and sedately
walked forward, pushing the heavy wagon
ahead of her. apparently without the
slightest exertion.
out of the menagerie tent into the big
tent wont the curious procession Here it
it was observed that an enormous circular
iron cage had been set up in the first ring,
completely filling it. The cage was between
twelve and fourteen feet high and open at
the top. The wagon was backed up against
the big cage, opposite door. door in
the end of the wagon was opened, and out,
with mighty spring leaped the striped
cat. There were two wooden pedestals in
the arena, shaped like truncated pyramids.
They We're placed about eighty feet apart,
and the tiger Immediately leaped to the
top of them. She had learned her proper
station after a long series of lessons. Her
trainer James McElroy, the same who
drives twenty nine horses at a rapid gal
lop. standing on the backs of the last two,
was already in the ring. whip in hand, and
the tiger turned and faced him with
snarl. If hatred was ever given express
sion in the movement of facial muscles,
the animal certainly showed it then and
throughout the lesson toward her keeper.
She is still dead sore on McElroy," said
the boss canvasman, who was standing
outside the cage.
Yes" said Mr.. Sells, who had come in
to watch the proceedings. She hates Nc
Elroy. She, as well as all other tigers rs
like a human being in the matter of likes
and dislikes. They are either whimsical
about it, or are guided by a feeling of be-
ing congenial or the reverse. Now. watch
her manner toward the young fellow who
has just gone in"
The young man mentioned walked over
TO the pedestal occupied by the tiger and
extended his hand She gave a little purr
of welcome, and rubbed her head against
him. He caressed her for a moment and
called her pretty pussy" She tried to lick
his face as he slipped a rope through a
ring in the leather collar around her neck.
This rope he passed to McElroy. who
then proceeded TO put the tiger through
the preliminary PAGES. She leaped back
and forth from one pedestal to another.
snarling viciously at her trainer at every
jump he forced her to take by making
a very slight demonstration with his whip
The trainer moved with extreme delibera-
ton, never taking his eyes off the animal
A handsome, powerful looking horse was
led into the ring. covering of strong
leather was fastened over his neck, sides
and TANKS to protect him from the jaws
of the tiger. A huge fat saddle was
clnched tightly on the horses back. The
object of all the maneuvers was to induce
the tiger to see the practicability and sport
of riding at a gallop around the ring
perched gracefully on that saddle. The
horse was led between the pedestals a few
times, and the tiger leaped over him on
each occasion.
Now, hold that horse this time, If you
can" said McElroy to the man in charge
of that animal.
"I'll try my best" said the man address,
ed: There were two ropes now attached
to the tigers collar. These were passed
through q couple of rings in the saddle.
"An ready, now, let him CO." said Nc
Elroy, and as the tiger again attempted to
leap over the horse she was checked mid
way, her head being pulled down close to
the saddle and held there by the ropes in
the hands of McElroy and the boss animal
man. The horse reared and plunged Vio-
lently.
Hold her down tight" yelled the train
err but the horse broke away from the at
tendant and dashed around the cage in
The tiger ViOlpn1flW q nd
a ring on the saddle broke. This freed
her partly, but by this time horse and
rider were both in a tangle of ropes. Pres
emily the tiger freed herself and dashed
against the bars of the cage She was
wild with rage and fright, and the horse,
also wild with fear struck out violently
at the tiger with his heels. For a moment
things inside the cage looked serious, but
the trainer cracked his whip sharply, and
with a bound the big cat took her station
at the top of the pedestal. where she
crouched, snarling, with cleaning eyes,
and a nervous tail.
Her faVorite came up, however, then,
and soon Gained her with a little net
ting, but the horse could not be again
induced to permit the tiger to ride him
That viii do for to-day" said the
trainer. 'Well put a binder on that
horse next time. and rig rope to throw
him If he don't stand
THE puplic never realizes how much
patience is required to teach wild ami
NAL anything like this" said Mr. Sells.
when they see them go through their
PAGES they say. How intelligent those
animals are and never think Of the
months Of care and thought which have
been devoted to the desired end
"a tiger r. much more intelligent than
a Hon. The latter Is extremely stubborn
and will rush into danger without con-
sidering the consequences. But a tiger
will not get hurt n II can help Il. II will
carefully study all sorts Of ways 10 keep
out Of trouble, and will yield 20 the IN
eYitabie. - can only be taught 20 DO