The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-06
LIONS IN FIERCE FIGHT
E"rOciOus Kings of Forest Dispute
for Beastly Sovereignty Before
Great Crowd.

Fur flew and howls of living rag re-
ounded through the arena at the Bos-
ock Show last night. Twenty-seyen
.ons roaring mad and wild with the
renzy of their native f~ierceness, fought
it, clawed and growled for several
ours, while the amazed and astoundad
fowd of spectators gazed at the mag
ficent sight. They were terrified, but
he very fiercenes5 of the struggle fas-
mated them. Amid the seething mass
# Infatuated beasts Bonavita, their
Llank cartridges in an endeavor to quiet
ais pets. He was long il doing it. ard
when h suppressed growls of the
ings of the fores, told tina they were
gain in subjection, tufts of fur were
trewn about the arena The traiEer
Scaped with a slight scratch on the
boulder, but thaC he is alive Seems; a
liracle to h hundreds who saw tie
reat panorama last night.
P~andemOnium reigned for q few no
lents, until the attendants notified the
1atrons of the show that there was no
anger to them, after which they CAL
ed down and seemed to enjoy the
fair, though realizing that the tram
!, CAPTAIN Bonavlta, was in a perilOus
~osition.
DENVER CAUSE TROUBLE
There were in the neighborhood of
We hundred present, and the show had
rogressed very nicely until it came
B~onavita's VI to bring in his trained
iOns. He has a large Nubian lion
named Denver, who he has been PIT"
ting through a special course of rain
ing, and has not worked with the ON
rs to any exten;, and it was through
: Denver" that the fight started. The
"ther lions seemed to be rather opposed
TO his joining tia, m in the exhibition,
Ind while they were passing through
the narrow passage to the arena, enc
IF them made a dig at the new actor.
Denver" resented this familiarity. and
returned the con: pliment, WhereupOn
tfOuble commenced.
III driving the lions to the arena
cey have to pas through a narrow
2}ley in the rear of the cage. This
alley is only three feet wide, and it is
in this passage that the trainer has the
riost dangerous Fart Of his work 10
IerfOrm. After turning them out of
their age he has to follow along be-
hind, driving them into the arena. There
rs absolutely no way of escape should
they attack him, and there is very lit
tie chance for assistance from the ou.-
side, owing to the cramped condition of
the place. 1t was at the end OF the
driveway, and "a the point where the
wider drive to the arena joins the mar
row passage that the fight commercial.
Eonavita Immediately rushed into tha
mixture and succeeded in driving par;
OF them into the big cage, and closing
the door. The others were scattered
along from the arena to the passage
way, and all was q roaring, Seethi:iS
mass of ferocioUs beasts. In the midst
ot all was Bon1vita. plying his whil
ma fork. and interspersing the while
with shots from blank cartridges, en-
u~eavoring to separate his pets.
BEAT ROMAN ARENA.
The visitors for once in their lives
rad an opportunity to witness a scene
that would put the Roman amph;thea-
frG Of olden times far in the real pei
To add interest to the affair, anC
realizing that It was appropriate FOL
the occasion. the band commenced t,
LAY IN the Good Old Summer Tire.
The music had the effect of quleIine
the visitors, although it failed to fulfil
the time honore Droverb that must,
hath charms to soothc the Savag,
beast
In the arena, the lions had full sway
and were fighting to their hearts con
tent. Caesar" che of the largest y
them made a YER striking picture, j.!
holding of the pedeSalS, upon Thlci
they sit, in front of him. and huriiC:
&c fiance at the rest.
| Finding that lis challenge was no
| accepted. he made a flying leap y
| about twenty feet landing in the mids
Of the seething mass, and made thing
| lively for the rest
| BOnaVita succeeded in quoting thOS
| on the outside, ard drove them to the,
| cages. He then rlade an effort to -
| the others straight. After two hours
| work this was accomplished. ami tn
lions are now Ill back in their GAG
and will be ready for the performance
| tomorrow.
CLOSt. CALL.
! Bonvita, when seen after the eX
ment was over, :Gid that it was one d"
| the most thrilling and dangerous eX
| lerienceS in his career as a trainer, an
1 tina he did noI ~ealiZe his danger unt
the fight had quoted down. He was z
| cool and collected is if it had bee
part of his daily work. and did not q:
rear as excited as those who had ma
nothing to do with the affair. He sal
l that he guessed this demonstration c
his pets ferocity would convince Tn
rublic that they are still wild animal:
-Richmond Times, January 1st.
Officers of American Negro Academ
Washington, ID. c., December 30