The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-07
TWEATY-sEVEN LIONS Fight.
Terrifying Spectacle in Rich
mond, Virginia.
Trainer Enters Cage and Conquers the
Beasts After Terrible Battle.
From Richmond Times, Jan. 1.

From Richmond Times, Jan. 1.
Fur few and howls of raving rage
resounded through the arena at the
.Bostock Show last night. Twenty
seven lions roaring and mad and wild
with the frenzy of their native fierce
ness, fought, bit, clawed and growled
! for several hours, while the amazed
and astounood crowd of spectators
gazed at the magnificent sight. They
were terrified, but the very ferceness
of the struggle fascinated them. Amid
| the seething mass of infUriated beasts
Bonavita, their trainer, yelled Piled
the lash and fred blank cartridges in
an endeavor to quiet his pets. He
was long in doing it, and when the
suppressed growls of the kings OF the
forest told that they were again in
subsection, tufts Of fur were strewn
about the arena. The trainer escaped
with a slight scratch on the shoulder,
but that he is alive seems a miracle
panorama last night.
Pandemonium reigned for a few
moments, until the attendants notified
the patrons of the show that there was
ND danger to them, after which they
Gained down and seemed to enjoy the
affair, though realizing that the train
er, Captain Bonavita, was in a peril
ous position.
There were in the neighborhood of
five hundred present, and the show had
progressed very nicely until it came
Bonavita's turn to bring in his train
ed lions, He has a large Nubian lion
named Denver" who he has been
putting through a special course of
traing. and has not worked with the
others to any extent and it was
through Denver that the fight
started. The other lions seemed to be
rather opposed TO his joining them in
the exhibition, and while they we're
passing through the narrow passage
to the arena, one of them made a dig
at the new actor. Denver resented
this familiarity, and returned the
compliment, whegeupon trouble COM
menced.
In driving the lions to the arena
they have to pass through narrow
alley in the rear of the cage. This
alley is only three feet wide, and it is
in this passage that the trainer has
the most dangerous part Of his work
to perform. After turning them out
of their cages he has to follow along
behind, driving them into the arena.
There is absolutely 40 way of escape
should they attack him, and there is
very little chance for assistance from
the outside, owing to the cramped con-
dition of the place. It was at the end
of the driveway, and at the point
where the wider drive to the arena
joins the narrow passage that the fight
commenced. BonaVita Immediately
rushed into the mixture and succeed
ed in driving part of them into the big
cage, and closing the door. The others
were scattered along from the arena
to the passageway, and all was roar
ing, see5hing mass of Of ferocious
beasts. In the midst of all was
Bonavita, plying his whip and fork,
and interspersing the while with shots
from blank cartridges, endeavoring
to separate his pets.
The visitors for once in their lives
had an opportunity to witness a scene
that would put the Roman amphi-
theatre of olden times far in the rear
pen.
To add interest to the affair, and
realizing that it was appropriate for
the occasion, the band commenced to
play In the Good Old Summer
fine. The music had the effect of
quieting the visitors, although it
failed TO fulfill the time honored pro-
verb that music hath charms to soothe
the savage beast.
In the arena the lions had full
sway, and were fighting tc their
hearts content. Caesar, one of the
largest ef them made a very striking
picture, by holding one Of the pedestals,
upon which they sit, in front Of him,
and burling defiance, at the rest.
Finding that his challenge was not
accepted, be made flying leap of about
twenty feet, landing in the midst Of
the seething mass, and made things
lively for the rest.
Bona7ita succeeded in quieting those
on the outside, and drove them to
their cages. He then made an effort
to get the others straight. After two
hours work, this was accomplished,
and the lions are now all back in their
cages, and will be ready for the per-
formance tomorrow.
Bonavits, when seen after the excite
meut was over, said that it was one of
the most thrilling and dangerous ex-
periences in his career as trainer,
and that he did not realize his danger
until the fight had quieted down.
He was as cool and collected as if it
had been part of his daily work, and
did not appear as excited as those
who had nothing to do with the
affair. He said that he guessed this
demonstration OF his pets ferocity
would convince the public that they
are still wild animals.