The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-26
Principal Keeper w. H. Blackburne, Who
Has Grown Up With Lions and Tigers,
Has Countless Stories, Grave
and Gay, to Relate.

do nothing at all with him-when you
see that you cannot. Some are entirely
vicious and their animosity never ceases;
some are tractable, come TO know their
trainer and attendant, and to yield
ready obedience to his commands.
'On the other hand, It Is never pos
sibIe 10 guess even what tiger is going
TO do; he not only bears watching, but
demands IL. and he Is a very ignorant or
careless trainer that forgets TO keep his
eye on the beast all the time. II he
does forget, he is very likely 20 be
brought suddenly back to earth, with
such injuries, perhaps. as will serve to
keep him there a good. long while.
But he did. in time. After a parade
one day l was trying 20 get out of the
cage, something ii is always wise TO do
with some care. I stepped from the
cage toward the wooden platform, which
ran below It, swinging on to the side
bars with ond hand, and trying to close
the door with the other. In some way
1 managed 10 miss the platform, and to
catch one foot inside the closing door.
THE door stood six or eight inches
ajar. and in a second the lion was after
me. I had to hold on to the side of
the cage to keep from falling, and to
the door to keep IL from being pulled
open, and there 1 hung. with my foot
inside. and the DIg paw OF that old cat
striking within an inch OF my face and
coming closer with each stroke
thought 1 was a goner.
Every half moment I expected to be
minus a foot. but for some reasC \ the
lion did not notice his opportunity. and
confined himself TO wild efforts to reach
my face. This he could not reach, and
I was rescued by some of the men in
the tent, and helped to a place of
safety.
Each Rule Has Exception.
But in training animals there is no
rule without it's exception and the sue
/ cessful trainer takes into account the
/ individual peculiarities of every animal
he tries TO teach a lesson. Some II is
| necessary 20 whip. while others proudly
refuse to receive the lash II does not
| make things easier for the trainer 20
have one of the big cats with this trait
in the same cage with others. whom q
is necessary to whip In order to get
| them TO go through their performance
II made the acquaintance once, how
| ever. OF a big lion who would have
thought his honor gone had he sub
mitted TO be whipped under any ordi-
nary circumstances, who yet violated his
rule on one memorable occasion. I re-
member It myself, because I was abou,
as much scared then as 1 have ever
/ been in my life.
There are two towns In York State
which are separated by a distance OF
only about two miles. so that 70 IS GUS
| tomary for the parade 20 pass through
/ ETuat II IL
ing the return trip from one of tho
towns back to that in which the lot
was situated, there came up one OF
the most terrific thunderstorms 1 have
ever witnessed The peals of thunder
were like the noise OF a battle, and tht
i lightning flashed all about.
Scared by the Thunder.
81 was in the cage with this Hon o.
which I speak. I used 20 watch hin
pretty carefully, but care was no
needed then. The big beast was 81
badly frightened he didn't know wha
TO do. ] was wearing a mountaineer'i
costume. with a kilt and thigh boots
and II finally occurred to the lion tina
the thing 10 do was to come and sticl
his head under the kilt. He did. anC
refused to move IT, though 1 showed
him and yelled at him. and at last ever
used the whip He just rubbed hii
great head against me, and kept wher'
he was.
you can imagine / was not verl
comfortable and the fifteen minutes tn
storm lasted seemed 10 me like so man,
hours When the storm broke the lion'i
spirit seemed broken, too. and II wal
several days before he recovered hii
old desire to get az me-"
Terrified by the Unusual.
Mr.. Blackburne doesn't think that will
proper handling lion training is a yer.
dangerous pastime, though he is quit
willing 10 admit that there are moment
Of danger in the lion trainers life. 4
study OF each animal. with the result
ing understand OF his character. and
iconstant and watchful observance Of or
binary precaution. he believes, will brini
safety.
To illustrate how thoroughly the mem
bers Of the cat family-nO matter wha
their size or natural ferocity-are fright
ened by the occurrence Of startling o
unusual incidents, Mr.. Blackburn tell
"A story OF the burning of the white
lquarters Of the BarRum g. Bailey cir
Gus at Bridgeport, Conn, a score o
years ago. II shows. too. that goo
deal OF the fear entertained by the bu
man race inspired by these great beast
could be dispensed with very easily.
1T happened during the fire." Mr.