The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-10-20

Extra hazardous" might well quail
ny the risk" that would be placed
with the name Of a lion-tamer should
he have the hardlhood TO apply for an
accident policy: but the intrepid in
dividusl who ptiis his head In the lions
mouth and chases irate beasts up and
down narrow cages does not apparent
ly think 80 much about these things
as the man OF sedentary occupation
says the New York Telegraph. This
was the opinion OF a famous trainer
who has been following the perilous
profession for twenty-five years and
who discussed the pros and cons Of
his business with cheerful candor
The trainer who has only been out Of
the hospital few days. exhibited with
nonchalence bandaged leg where a
lioness had nipped through few
inches above the ankle. The same
animal had bitten him In the same
place few years before In Manches-
Ger, England. II was evidently favor
ite bite with her.
1--WE been lucky for year now"
said the tanner The last trouble
had OF any importance was last sum
mer. A friend Of mine asked me TO
break three young lions for perform
ing The result was that after a few
lessons hoyod down for repairs, and
had thirty stitches taken In my back.
The lions remained rs frisky as ever
some lions. you know absolutely re-
fuse to be educated The teeth OF q
lion eXemplliy the fines, condition OF
development Of the oarnlyorous type,
The great, sharp, canine teeth placed
Wide apart at the angles OF the mouth
can hold on better than any pincers
have ever seen The jaws are short
and strong and are moved by power
ful muscles"
us there any popularity about lion
tanners national or otherwise7"
queried the reporter
II can't say there is responded the
trainer. Il happen TO be a scotchman.
Six llon-tamers n you choose to call
us such, came from the same place l
did You might not believe II. but the
eEcltable French are adept. although |
believe the Germans are more success
ful In the handling Of animals. Dur
ing my residence in this country the
last three years / have met a number
Of Americans who gave every evidence
of handling animals a. fearlessly as
any men have ever met: they are not
80 patient perhaps. as the Germans,
In trying TO teach them tricks. but
they are very alert and daring"
How do you go about the business
OF training llons?"
We'll the first thing Is to get them
TO know you from work In front OF the
cage; go into the den every morning
and read the papers-my wife used to
take her sewing and work an hour or
no. This Is the early stage before you
use a whip You can't train lions TO
do much: you can urge them to run
about the cage, Jump the hurdle and
leap through a hoop. or course, put
tang your head In the lions mouth Is
always a risk and should not be at
tempted unless the animal Is quiet
You stroke the beasts back as you
would that OF cat. This sort OF
soOthes him ana you may take adyan-
tage OF this fact TO quietly pry open
HIS Jaws and press your head so closely
TO the teeth as your courage permits.
or course, II the animal is disposed to
close down on you at this time trepan-
ming would be necessary II you ever
got out alive. Personally, | am more
afraid Of Hons paws than | am OF his
jaws. Talk about upper cuts left
hooks and that sort Of prlze-hghtlng
fancy shotsl A lion is wonderfully
clever and he does II without gloves.
A lions claws take hold like fish
hook. A tiger or leopard gives with
the paws a side slash that cuts like
knife.
Lions are fed after they perform;
that Is part OF their reward for the
work: so that the Idea that they are
'dopy' and overied when we go into the
cage is a mistake. | would rather
work with lions any time than ele-
plants They are such treaoherous
and powerful beasts. I have had their
tusks each side Of me thrust through
three inches OF board and have had
'em gorlng the ground as | lay between
the Understanding each moment
would be my last.
"Oh, yes, lions are cantankerous and
have their bad days. Some OF them
seem chemically bad
"The lioness that am working now
Ia not a good animal. The fact Is she
has killed and manned five keepers.
not to mention the horses she has kill
ed when she has been on the rampage.
You may remember, she got out In
New York four years ago and was
gone two days, / finally caught her
in stable, whore she had been dining
a Ia carte on the poor horses, A year
ago In Kansas City she killed her last
keeper. have not worked with her
for three years until recently I
showed you the result OF our first
sorimmage after my return" and the
man pointed significantly to his ban
daged leg"