The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-01-30
Had Just Come Here from
indianapolis.
WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF
NERVE AND COURAGE
Wounded and Bleeding Trainer Yet
Appears in The Arena, and Until
Faint With Loss Of Blood, Forces
the Animal Through Per-
formance-Danger Of
Blood Poisoning.

Torn and bleeding from rough contest
With this widest and fercest OF his cage
Of wild and fierce beasts. Herman Weedon.
one Of the trainers at the Bostock Shows,
nevertheless stood last night until he
tainted from loss Of blood, and with re-
njarkahle nerve and perseverance, put
through the PAGES every one Of his mot
eating tiger, who had just attacked him.
Weedon's young wife. who, with her child,
had just come from the West to him, was
there to witness her husbands danger and
his courage in the face OF 1t.
Tho condition Of the trainer to-day Is
rrecarious. Before the tiger could be
beaten back with red hot irons the man
had been torn and bruised badly, and
there Is now danger OF blood poisoning
from the dirty paws OF the beast.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
It was rather tragic ending to the
benefit performance for the Womens
Christian Association. All had gone we'll
as usual and even better until Weldon
entered the arena. The attendance 'Sas
pretty good for the occasion, and much
Interest was manifested In the several
hair-raising numbers which filed out the
programme
The particular act In Which the trainer
figures Is one of the most remarkable and
terrifying on the bill. J,3so the arena at
one and the same ai.is, are sent, howling
and swapping, lions, tigers, bears, hyenns
and few other varieties. There in the
midst Of them appears Weldon to show
what the Will of man can do with wild
beast. It4is a situation which drives the
breath straight from the body of onlook-
ers.
THE ATTACK.
Last night, as usual, the animals. when
the time came, were driven from their
cages down long, closed passageway
into the arena. Weldon. the only one
who can manage them, went along to keep
them from faltering by the wayside. At
this particular time he had more trouble
than usual Qbst!nacy bristled from the
back OF more than one of the beasts and
the crack Of the trainers whip was heard
more than once. twas tug Of war, from
which the dauntess Weldon was not des-
tined to come forth unscathed.
"Goldie," the yellow tiger, bears the
name Of a 1nan-eater. and now it was
"Goldie" which showed the most extreme
OF rage Of terror. Mad and infurlated
with an enforced subiection, the beast,
for the nonce embosomed with all the
natural and untamed wildness OF the jun
gle, flew at its master, dealing on the
way death-carrytng blow. Weldon
went down IN the SUugSle, but was up
again In an instant. From wound In
his cheek the blood was flowing. His
arm and his back were torn and bruised
and bleeding. But II his body was badly
used up his spirit was more than ever
aroused.
Into the cage went Weldon just as he
was, and there. despite his wounds he
forced his turbulent crew through the
evolutions required in the programme.
Then faint with the loss of blood he was
taken out and put under medical treat
ment A physician in the audience came
to his aid and relieved him with drugs.
BY his side stood his young wife WHO
came to Richmond yesterday from In
dianapolis. and who, with her little child,
arrived In time to see her husband torn
by the wild beast. At a late hour the
injured man was resting quietly but he
is by no means out of danger. The
dirty claws Of the tiger tore the skin and
there Is a fear Of blood-posoning.
I FOUGHT RACK WITH HOT IRONS.
AS "Goldie' had come from her cage to
the arena. so she went back sullen. The
taste and the smell of blood made her
wilder than ever, If anything Red hot
irons were applied and then !noh by
inch she fought her way backward. 1t
was long and n wear!some and a dan
gerous job, but by II o'clock. an hour
or more after the attack, the tiger was
crouchng again within its cage. still sui
len and growing.