The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-09-22

hGil l5H Tiger. OOupdreu W ehS
training of lions and ele-
plants the training of tiger is as
the breaking In of vicious boarhound
to the first lessons in etiquette of
chubby Newfoundland puppy. Even
the most expert wild animal trainers
balk at an assignment to "break"
tiger. Not more than one in ten pro-
fessional lion trainers has the nerve to
try his hand at the great, ferocious,
striped cats.
AS a matter of fact, there is no such
thing as a "tamed tiger" Few and
far between there are instances where
the animals are shown as trained and
broken in, but the friendship of the
animal for the trainer who may have
befriended it for years hangs at the
| end Of the mans blacksnake whip.
| From the Cay the acquaintance is made
to the day man and beast are separated
there is steafthy warfare between
them; the catlike slyness of the ponder
Gus brute directed toward the one aim
of killing the man and the vigilance Of
the master ever alert to Illustrate that
plan.
One of the peculiarities of tanning a
tiger is that the feat may be performed
much better by a man totally strange
to the animal than by the one who has
helped rear it by the side of its mother.
What the reason for this is few animal
men can explain unless it is that the
subject is more apt to be inspired by a
wholesome fear when it encounters
a man totally strange.
The first step taken in training any
wild cat animal is to familiarize it as
much as possible with the fact that
the newcomer into its life means nc
harm. Much depends upon the indi
vidual nature of the animal to be
trained in deciding upon a proper
course for the primary lesson. If the
brute is unusually treacherous he is
given ample chance to work out his
plans against the trainer, who is con
tinually on guard and sees to it thai
each attack results in failure.
The early lessons administered to
tiger are ridiculously on the hide-and
seek plan. The trainer stands in from
Of the cage inviting the inmate to
stealthy attack. Unless the tiger b.
an exceptionally quiet subject there II
not long to wait. Cunningly covering
in a corner, the tiger makes ready fol
the attack. Nearer and nearer III
itches and inches toward the stranger
standing seemingly unawares near thu
bars of the cage. Other men may hav'
fed the big fellow for years. His oil
trainer the brute would not think o
attacking in this way. But the stran
ger is an intruded. to be struck from
behind, from where most tigers at
tacks come, and there lies the frs
lesson.
AS the great paw with the crue
claws shoots out between the bars tn
stranger steps to one side. Nothini
happens. Not even a switch is brough
down on the dreadful paw. The stran
ger merely stands and looks. So doe
the tiger. The next move depends NJ
on the desire of the brute to worl
harm. If the claws are withdrawn tn
stranger is simply prepared to under
go a second similar attack. If tn
paw remains defiantly thrust throug
the bars, up rises a slim, yellow wan
in the hand of the man. Slowly an
with full intent to show the brute wha
is happening the wand is raised highe
and higher. Then a swish, and with a
the strength of a powerful mans RICH
arm, down comes rawhide acros
the threatening paw.
If the animal shows fight there is a
unfair duel between the paw and til
rawhide, which can end but one way
Then the tiger is left alonesto cool Of
, and to ponder over what happened
Under no consideration is the anima
/, further treated while it is angry. l
! time, even in the most stubborn cases
the tiger learns that If he leaves tb
man in peace nothing will happier
Also, that If he tries to attack the II
suit is pain and defeat Also, that tn
! man will feed the tiger daily, not alon
with meat and eatables, but with Luz
uries of the cat world-catnip, for e.
! ample.
, Once this reaction has been estal
2 lished between man and beast the Sc
! ond stage of the training is undo
h taken. 1t becomes necessary to pr
: pare the brute for a closer intervie'
with the stranger, who now prepares
Y enter the cage. Exactly as in II
) case Of lion tanning, a chair is the fir
+ thing introduced into the den. He
: the catnip and the wand opens Il
f cage. regards the surprised tiger, wi
wonders what is going to happen. 4
4 places a wooden chair in the cage I
y the brute and, leaving the cage {
i quickly as he had entered it, watch'
8 developments.
q Unused to the strange intrusion, Il
. tiger lies scowling in corner and +
CARDS the chair. That the chair mu
! die is settled. Never before has
; seen such a quadruped. He does n
! even know in which direction 1t move
\ He begins to reconnoitre by circlir
i around and around the thing. III
chair stands motionless-another fe
: ture which the animal regards wi
!, distrust and disgust. Never before HI
, H. opoo1ntarod an pqnfnv pxppnt II