Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-06
TRAINERS BAFFlEO.
One Of the Tigers Of the Big Circus Will Not
Be Tanned.

Last March, at Montreal, the man
agement of the Adam Forepaugh- Sells
Brothers circus purchased a formid-
able Bengal tiger. which had been
captured only few months previous,
and had been brought to the Canadian
metropolis on a ship direct from Cal
cutta. The natives in Bengal state
that his tigership had destroyed and
devoured more than so people, includ-
ing four entire families who lived near
his favorite jungle He seemed to bear
a charmed life. and could not be ex-
terminated with either spear or bullet.
Finally. with the aid Of a column of
British cavalry he was run into huge
trap. bound with ropes and thongs and
forced into strong cage, in which he
was conveyed on the ship to Montreal
Colonel Peter Sells, general manager of
the 4-Paw-Sells combine, happen
ed in Montreal at the time of the ar
rival of the tiger, and, after three days
negotiations, purchased the animal
from the captain of the vessel. 1t was
costly affair, however, as the treas
ury department of the big aggregation
was obliged to separate from seven
thousand good American dollars-an
unparalleled figure, as the regular
price of tigers ranges from $500 to
S2000-in order to obtain possession OF
the monster.
During the long voyage from Calcut
ia, the passengers. officers. and crew
were in mortal fear of the beast. One
day he forced the bars of his cage
apart and rushed wildly about the
compartment in the hold where his
cage set Great CONSERVATION prevail
ed The passengers fled to their state
rooms and the sailors skipped aloft.
Fortunately the mate was a cool
headed fellow who had had some eX-
perience in handling wild beasts. He
ordered a couple of sailors to bring out
the fire-hose. and while the tiger was
making terrific leaps toward the hatch
way, which he had thus far been I'M
able to clear, a stream of water was
turned upon him. Drenched with
water instantly, he jumped about in
abject terror. Never was an animal
more surprised He defied bullets and
steel, but succumbed to cold water.
Completely cowed and as meek as the
proverbial lamb, he took refuge in his
cage While the sailors covered the
opening in the cage with a powerful
stream of water. and the tiger lay
trembling in one corner, the mate
boldly approached and repaired the
| twisted bars. As soon as the sailors
stopped playing on the tiger he be-
came as furious as ever and made
desperate efforts to escape, but the
bars had been securely adjusted
Since being placed in ForepauSh and
Sells menagerie, where he is confined
| in a specially strong cage. he has torn
the arms and shoulders of two en-
ployees through the steel bars of his
lair, and no man can be found among
the several experienced and courageous
wild beast trainers with the show who
| is daring enough to enter his den and
| face him. They believe he can never
be subdued The circus people have
named him Satan"
If any of the ambitious youth of the
| city would like to attempt the sub
lection of this famous beast and there
| bv obtain everlasting renown-a prize
so dear to the juvenile heart-the man
agement of the Big Dual Show may be
| induced to furnish them an opportunity
| on the occasion of their now rapidly
approaching visit here.