Evening star., 1901-03-09
CHARMED BY WILD BEASTS.
PeriIous Experience of a Keeper IN
the Philadelphia Zoo.


From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
There is something in the angry CLINT
of a wild animals eye that fascinates John
Lover. one of the keepers Of the geological
gardens. and his fondness for literally
.beardfng the lion In his. dem some day
may cost him his life. No one knows this
better than Lover himself, and yet he feels
that his Zines are cast in pleasant places
and would be envious Of any man fool
hardy enough to apply for his position.
At least half of the time this man with
the daredevil recklessness Of spirit goes
about with bandaged limbs, the results OF
encounters with his friends the animals.
When his hands, arms or legs are torn Dy
the claws of the maddened beasts ne makes
q dash for a bottle of cautertzing fluid,
pours It into the ragged wound, and then
goes back to subdue by kindness or punish
ment. as the case may require, the animal
that attacked him.
Il wouldn't leave my position Tor any
other one that could be offered to me-, ne
said today. II love wild animals and know
1t Is their nature to attack men NO; L
ferceness and splendid courage is beaten
out OF them, and 1 regard them as l would
q cowardly man..
Yesterday, however, he met with his most
thrilling trial, and his own words best tell
the tale of the encounter with the wolves.
About IL o'clock yesterday morning" he
said today, 81 went into the cage where the
gray wolves were fighting. l thought L
could separate them without force, but as
precaution l armed myself with a club and
broom. Nellie, the female wolf, was more
troublesome than her mate, Dan, and at
tempted TO pacify her first Ny presence
seemed to quiet them. and thought while
was in the cage l would clean it. When
had finished 1 started to leave by way of
rear door, but had no sooner turned my
back than Nellie sprang upon me-
>trrr,z oh TrlHC m har
che struck me fell to the floor with a thud
ban, her mate, howled furiously, but did
not make an attempt to attack me until
Nellie had my left arm tightly clenched be-
tween her sharp teeth. The pain from the
bite fearful, and to protect myself
struck her with my club, which seemed at
first to enrage her.
"She sprang at me again, seized my in
jured arm between her jaws and the pain
increased so intensely that I almost
bewildered for the time. Then she fell on
the floor unconscious. / thought i was
through with the struggle and started again
to leave the cage.
Dan, the male wolf in a spirit of re-
venge, then attacked me. and strange as it
may seem, after biting me on the thumb of
the right hand, made a frightful growing
noise. and to my amaZement seized my al
ready badly iacerated arm, and crunched
down upon it,
II yelled for help, and with thin broom
stick was compelled 10 fight my way to lib
erty. worked my way to the door of the
cage. leading to small inclosure in the
rear, and thought | was safely out, but
was disappointed again, as the female wolf
who is a cute, cunning beast, beat me to
the door. and slipped out just ahead of me.
Il was now without club, broom any
thing to defend myself, except my right
hand. My left hand and arm were useless.
1 was covered with blood and seemed TO In
furiate the beasts, who were growing ap5
praneing about. both with their glaring eyes
upon me- Fate seemed TO be against me for
the time. and a thousand thoughts ran
through my head in an instant.
But no time was to be lost. Nellie again
started for me. / checked her leap with my
foot. and quickly seized her by the throat.
She struggled to get away and bit me- but
fortunately Headkeeper Manley, with six
men. arrived just in time 10 prevent the
animals from tearing me to bits. After
some difficulty the wolf was forced into her
cage. when she and her mate walked to and
fro al Law