The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-17

lllgll lGiI tiger. Compared to the
training of lions and Gle
plants the training of tiger Is as
the breaking in of a vicious boarhound
TO the first lessons in etiquette OF Il
chubby Newfoundland puppy. Even
the most expert wild animal trainers
balk at an assignment to "break" II
tiger. Not more than one in ten pro-
fcssional lion trainers has the nerve to
try his hand ut the great, fcrocious
striped cats.
AS Il matter oc fact. there Is no such
thing as tanned 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
befrienGod it for years hangs at the
end of the mans Glacksnake whip.
From the day the acquaintance is made
10 The day man ard beast are separated
there is a stealthy warfare between
them; the catliRe siyncss Of the ponder
ous 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 pcculiaritics OF tanning 4
tiger is that the feat mGy he performed
much better by man totally strange
TO the animal than ~ the one who has
helped rear il by the side of its mother
What the reason for this iG few animal
men can explain. unless it is that the
T.. ~, its. fp,,,1 In,
wholesome fear when it encounters
Il man totally strange.
The first step taken in training any
wild cat animal is to famiiariHc Ii as
much as possible with the fact thar
the newcomer into it's life means no
harm. Much depends upon the indi-
vidual nature OF the animal to he
trained in deciding upon proper
course for the primary lesson. If the
brute is unusually treachcrous he is
given ample chance 10 worl: out his
plans against the trainer. who is con-
tlnUally on guard and sees to it that
each attack results In failure.
The carly lessons administered to n
t.ger are ridicUlously on the hide-and-
seek plan. The trainer stands in front
of the cage inviting the inmate TO Il
stealthy attack. Unless the tiger be
an exceptionally quiet subject there IS
not long 20 wait. Cunninciy covering
IN corner, the tiger makes ready fo"
the attack. Nearer ana nearer he
itches and inches toward the stranger
standing seemingly CE2wares near the
bars OF the cage. Other men may have
fed the big fellow FOR years. His Old
trainer the brute would not think of
attacking in this way. Bat the stran-
ger is an intruded. to be struck from
behind. from where most tigers at
tacks come, and there lies the first
lesson.
AS the great raw with the cruel
claws shoots out between the bars the
stranger steps to one side. Nothing
happens. Not even Il switch is brought
down on the dreadful paw. The stran-
ger merely stands and looks. SO does
the tiger. The neEt move depends up
on the desire of the brute to work
harm. If the claws are Withdrawn the
stranger Is simply prepared TO under
go second similar attack. If the
paw remains deiantly thrust through
the bars, up rises Il slim, yellow wand
in the hand of the man. Slowly and
with full intent to show the brute what
is happening the wand IS raised higher
and hi-her. Then a swish. and with all
the strength of powerful mans right
arm, down comes Il rawhide across
the threatening paw.
If the animal shows cGlt there is an
unfair duel between the paw and the
rawhide, which can end but one way.
Then the tiger is left alone to cool of
and TO ponder ever what happened.
Under 10 consideration is the animal
further treated while it Is angry. In
time. even in the most stubborn cases.
the tiger learns that II he leaves the
man in peace nothing will happen.
Also, that Il he tries to attack the re-
suit Is pain and defeat. Also. that the
man will feed the tiger daily. not alone
with meat and catabCs, hut with lux
uries of the cat woyld-catnip, for eX-
ample.
Once this reaction has been estab-
lishcd between man and beast the sec
ond stage of the training is under
taken. 1t becomes necessary to pre-
pare the brute for closer interview
with the stranger, who now prepares TO
enter the cage Exactly as in the
case of llon tanning, 4 chair Is the first
thing introduced into the den. He OF
the catnip and the wand opens the
cage. regards the surprised tiger, who
wonders what is going to happen. He
places wooden chair in the cage of
the brute and. leaving the cage as
quickly as he had entered it, watches
Developments.
Unused 10 the strange intrusion, the
tiger lies Sowing in corner ana re-
cards the chair That the chair must
die Ia settled. Never before has he
seen such n quadruped He does not
even know in which direction II moves
He begins to reconnoltre by circlinc
around and around the thing. The
chair stands notionless-another fea-
ture which the animal regards with
distrust and disgust. Never before has
he encountered m cenmy. except the
maa with the cainip and the eyes in
the back OF his head. that does not
present a front ready FOR defense.
Finally comes the attack. With
violent spring the tiger lands on the
chair. hurlcs 1t over and crunches the
woud In his mighty teeth There Is