Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-20
EXPERT TELLS
HOW To SUCCEED
FORMER KEEPER OF NEW YORK
zoo VISITS COAST
HAS HAD MANY ADVENTURES
William Caldwell Explains Method by
Which Success May Be At
taIned In Handling Savage
Beasts
HAS HAD MANY ADVENTURES

In Los Angeles and has decided to
make his permanent home in this city.
Few men have had the experience
credited to Caldwell in his thirty-three
years of existence. He has hunted wild
animals in the jungles of India and
Africa and has spent more than one
half OF his life in studying and train
ing animals.
Beginning in 1894, he assumed the
management of the Imperial zoo Of the
sultan of Johore, in the Malay Straits
settlement, holding this position three
years. during which time he was in
absolute charge of the royal menagerie.
For two seasons he had charge of the
Paris hippodrome and performed, un-
aided, one Of the most delicate and
successful operations ever attempted
j and which has never been tried since.
Delicate Operation
An unruly elephant, which was
most valuable animal because it was
one of the largest in captivity, became
angry one day during performance
and wildly rushed against a wall. Turn
ing it's head, the elephant struck the
wall heavily with it's tusk, driving
the long ivory tooth into its head, al
most piercing the brain.
This caused the animal to become
deranged and three internationally
famous veterinarians were called upon
to extract the tusk, but without sue
10 80 - ~
mails, undertook the difficult task and
by boring holes in the tusk, through
which wires were passed and fastened
to a tree, he forced the elephant to pull
it's tusk into position after being goad-
ed with steel pointed sticks by Cald
well.
Treating the tusk as If 1t were an
liberated tooth, Caldwell secured a
cure of the injury and restored the
elephant to its normal state of health.
For this success Caldwell was brought
into newspaper notoriety throughout
Europe.
Bostock's Trainer
For two seasons Caldwell was con-
nected with the Bostock animal shows,
and held the position Of boss animal
trainer, having entire charge of the
management of the ferocious beasts,
for which this menagerie is famous.
Later he accepted the appointment of
head animal keeper at the New York
city zoo, holding that position until
his resignation a few weeks ago, sew
ering his connection at that time be-
cause of disagreements with the man
agement, afterwards being vindicated
by New York newspapers.
During his career among the ami
mails he has experienced many thrilling
escapes from death and has fought the
beasts at all stages of their careers,
from the jungle to the Gagged homes
in zoos and menageries. In all
his experiences he has emerged with
out disf1guration, and minor scratches
are his greatest scars as mementos of
the fights.
Tells of Early Life
.'How did come to enter the profess
sion Of animal training? Well, I sup
pose L drifted into it naturally" Cald-
we'll said musingly yesterday afternoon
as he sat on the steps of Trainer Rice's
home at Eastlake park and looked over
at "Big Ben" in his cage.
IT have had love of animals ever
since I can remember and the twelve
years of my hunting and training
career have only strengthened my re-
gard for the dumb brutes.
There are not many qualifications
required to make a success of the busi-
ness. 1t takes an average amount of
pluck, temperance and enthusiasm.
Reinforced by these characteristics,
properly developed. any man should be
able to get to the top of the profess
sion"
Caldwell has the appearance of hav-
ing fully developed the qualifications oD
which he speaks. He is an English
man, sS years old. rugged and sturdily
built, and in whose blue eyes there lies
kindness as well as strong determlna-
ton. He speaks with the full under
standing of his work. showing a wide
range of knowledge from that Of trap
ping and training OF animals to their
scientific classification.
He is oil nerves. but there is not
nerve in his whole body that is not un-
der his control. He can hold at arms
length glass of water filed above
the rim without spilling drop Of its
contents, Caldwell smokes a great
deal. He excuses his habit on the plea
THAT the animals do not mind 1t and
n it is a good disinfectant.
Hunted Tigers
From the back of the elephant he
has enjoyed the regal sport of hunting
the man-eating tiger; he has led in
elephant hunts, trapped most Of the
different varieties of the cat tribe.
wandered for months through the jun
u.