The record-union., 1898-01-30
DEAN OF LION TANNERS.
'Pere Pezcn," Who Has Just Died
at the Age of Seventy Years.

Jean Baptiste Pezon, whose death has
just been announced. was the ''doyen'
of the lion tanners of France. Although
over 20 years old, he was still active
and robust, and those who saw him.
with his smiling face, his dark complex
ion. his piercing little eyes, his long
hair his gold earrings, his red waist
coat ard top boots, will never forget
him. He was the veritable type of
Snowman. The cause of his death was
heart disease, from which he had suf-
fered during the last month. In spite
of this, he was always gay and happy
until suddenly he was attacked with
fainting fit and died in his menagerie
in the midst of the fair at Montmarte.
Pere PeZon, as he was familiarly call
ed, was the founder of the dynasty of
lion tar.ers which bears his name. He
was born Of poor peasants in a small
village in the Lozere, and took to tam
ing at an early age. His skill in paci-
flying infuriated animals, such as bulls
and horses, made him famous through
out the country. He also became a
clever sportsman, and one day he sue
ceeded III capturing wolf. which, after
teaching it to perform several tricks.
he resolved to exhibit in the public
squares BY this means he managed to
amass sufficient money to buy bear
and, together with the wolf. he set out
for Paris in a carriage drawn by oxen
It was at Bordeaux that he bought his
first lion. A Captain coming from Af-
RIGA had the animal on board. and ask
ed a thousand francs for it. PeZon gave
him the money, and entered into pos
session Of it. But how are you to
take the lion away?" inquired the Cap
tain; you have not got a cage for it"
To which the 'dompteur'' replied. Il
have brought a chain and collar for it.
and that is all l need" And he forth
with took it home without any oppo-
sition being made to it's new master.
From that moment fortune smiled on
him, and in a short time he was able
to gather together a number of wild
beasts, which eventually made his me-
nagerie famous.
Pere Pezon, in the meantime had
called his three brothers to Paris to
help him in keeping his menagerie.
LATER on each of his brothers had a
nenagerie of his own. To one. Jean,
the task of tanning the animals was IA
td' I1S NdS filieu ny d lion
performance at BeZiers. Another, Jus
tin. was murdered by his manager The
third, Theodore, died from gout vale in
the act of tanning his beasts in the
presence Of a large audience There re-
mainad Jean Baptiste, who continued
to work in the provinces and abroad
It vas not till 1870 that he came to
Paris with his celebrated lion Brutus
for which the Shah of Persia offered
him fl0o. but the ..dompteur'' refused
to part with his favorite animal His
success at the fair at Montmarte was
so great that the director of the Chat
elet Theater engaged him to appear
With his lions and tigers in the fairy
piece of the '.Pilules du Diable" He
was PAID 1,2G0 francs night for forty
representations. With this money, Pc
Zon had a luxurious caravan made, and
increased the. number of animals.
During this time the sons of Theo-
dore Fezon. Alexandra and Edmond
travelled in the provinces With their
menagerie. Alexandra married his
cousin Baptistine, the daughter of Jean
Baptiste. 1t may be remembered that
the Wedding breakfast took place at
Saint-Mande. just outside Paris. and
that all the lion tanners and their wives
were invited to it. 1t was a memoir