Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-30
Observation-Disclosures
WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY ARE NOT
DANGEROUS.

ECill MI JdHltS a bil4tE RECENTLY
cit Is the general belief all over the
world that man who goes into den
of wild caruiyorOus beasts takes his life
III 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 for
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 a final an
swer TO all questions on the subject 1
wish to state here and now that there
is 10 danger whatever 70 any person en-
tering a cage of Wild beasts. Such
statement, however, will scarce be be-
lieyed without some further explana-
ton and proof
1T Is q fact that many men have
been manned and some killed by lions
and tigers in menagerics and geological
gardens throughout the world, but in
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 COrncred and i'll
fear of their lives 4 cat Will make q
desperate and determined fight if so
placed that it cannot escape from what
~ Hi ~ Ir1E
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
cd Of it. Trainers of the present day,
however have come to realize this and
accidents arc Of rare occurrence. And i
maintain that any man or woman, an
entire stranger TO the animals, can go
i'll with them and in perfect safety.
"A case III point comes to my mind.
4 few years ago | employed an innocent
sort Of German to work in the menag
eric, and one of the first tasks assigned
to him was cleaning the lions den. In
stead Of taking an iron sCrapcr and
working through the bars as custom
airy, he took broom. qyened the iron
door, went in tho cage and began to
sweep the floor. When Il lion got i'll his
way, he would punch it with the broom
and tell 1t i'll German to got away, and
it did so. The man repeated his expert
encc every day and was never harmed.
1 now make this positive statement
that i'll both the handling and training
of these animals there Is no more dan
ger than attends tho training of do
mcstic animal. The snarling and growl-
ing of the beasts are no moro indicative
of desire to claw and dcvour than Is
expressed i'll the bark or snarl of ca
nine house pet or tho hiss of n sleek
tabhy when its tail is stepped upon.
Tho big brutes may grOwl and crouch
about their cages, look dangerous and
act ferociouSly and all that, but l con-
tend, and experience has taught me
that my belief Is correct, that it Is only
through a desire to escape from the man
rather than 10 attack him.
1T takes time and patience, more
than any one not i'll the business can
imagine, to perfect the training of these
animals, and every trainer has a 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 10 have great intelligence,
VIII only 90 through their performances
when the ringmastor supplies the cue,
whatever it may be. Sometimes IL IS a
motion of the whip, at others a step
backward or forward, when instantly
the animal will respond. Now, all that
is necessary for any one to put through
In IF l-ir nd Of fr-1Y
animal or number of them is for him to
know when TO give the proper cue.
Il do not believe the animals know
one trainer from another unless one
has been with them for long time, for
when some Of my trainers have been
taken sick, been discharged or for other
causes have left my service the trained
animal part of my show has not been
interrupted, but has gone ON just the
same, 4 new man having been SUBSTITUTE
ed. and II Is safe to say that the ami
mails never knew the difference between
the men. l have changed the men as Of
ten Is five times i'll a season, and one
man has put the beasts through their
tricks quite as well rs another. Any
person who viii enter the arena fear
lesSly and confidently can take the
trainers whip and make the animals
perform As well rs a person who has
handled them for months. provided al Il
ways he knows what tricks the beasts
are required TO do and can supply the
cues.
II am aware that this statement may
appear to most people extraordinary, be-
cause il 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 1t public New York Sun.
A Judicial Rcproof.
\ Warrington justice once reproved 4 |
would be suicide thus: Young man,
you have been found guilty of attempt |
ing 70 drown yourself in the river. Only J
!.