The Louisiana populist., 1896-11-06
FAMOUS LION TAMERS.
Some Curious Anecdotes About French.
men in the Business

Some CuFlous AnecooteS Rpout ffenCn'
men in the Business
French lion tanners, even If they do
not exceed in skill those Of other ma
tions, have, at any rate, had more
written and said about them, says the
London Field. A few years ago NJ.
PeZon retired from business, having
made a fortune by bis great power
over animals and gained the distinc-
ton of being possibly the greatest lion
tanner in the world. with the exception,
perhaps, of NJ. Bidel, at whose me-
nagerie in Paris some time ago there
was a wonderful meeting of giants,
dwarfs and monstrosities generally,
for the purpose of discussing the inter-
ests of their respective callings, so far
as those interests We're connected with
the hiring Of ground in Paris and its
vicinity.
NJ. Pezon was one of the tanners who
ignored the use of heavy whip. Con-
ciliation, and not correction, was ap-
parently his motto; and, acting on that
principle, he attained prodigious sue
cess. Henri Martin, too, another
French performer, was quite in the
front rank; and he, unlike some others
in the profession, began really young.
He was but a small boy when he first
embarked on circus life, and began
with horses, gradually making his way
to the more dangerous animals. He is
said to have been one Of the few who
did not object to tackle tigers, leopards
or panthers-three animals which the
majority Of wild beast performers
have a wholesome and not unnatural
dislike to. Some Of NJ. Martins meth
DDS appear to have been curious. Hav-
ing on one occasion to interview a n.y.
ena, Martin wrapped his legs and arms
with cords, protected his head with
handkerchiefs and other things, and
walking into the cage, went to the hy-
ena and offered his arm. The hyena
bit 1t, Of course, but Martin looked ON
stolidly, as though nothing had hap
pened. Next day he substituted leg.
and so the training went on, till either
the hyena got tired of biting or was so
disgusted at seeing no results that he
gave 1t up.
NJ. Albert of Havre, too, was another
famous man in his calling, and dist1n-
guished himself on one occasion, when
he found quarrel going on among the
bears, by walking straight in among
them and separating the fighters; but
George Sanger once did about as
plucky thing as ever was known. The
lions and lioness were having a ter
rife fight in their cage, and the battle
ragged so furiously that neither Crock
EFT nor the keepers cared about ven-
turing in. Mr.. Sanger, however, was
equal to the occasion, and, going in
among the combatants, succeeded in
restoring peace at last. But If Crock
EFT, who was a very able trainer,
showed a slight loss of nerve on that
occasion, he made up for it on an
other, when a groom tampered with
the fastenings Of the lions cage at Ast-
ley's, in the hope that the occupants
would kill one or more Of the horses,
that he might be revenged on the man.
agement for some fine inflicted. A
night watchman, hearing a noise in the
auditorium. soon discovered the cause,
and a message was sent to Crockett at
his lodgings hard by. The tanner ar
rived. and, going into the auditorium
with n small switch, succeeded in
very short time in recaging his pupils.