Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-09-08
FAMOUS TRAINER ATTACKED
Panic Among Crowd at Bostock's
 When Falkendorph Appears.

when FalkendOrpn AppeaFss Heinrich Falkendorph. bearing m international reputation as daring trainer of wild animals. made his last appearance in the arena ot Bostock's at Coney Island day or | two ago.
 While panic reigned in the audi ence and pandemonium in the barred arena, Falkendorph, torn and bleed- ing, lay prostrate under the heavy paw of Rajah, Bengal tiger only few months out of the jungle.
 Not one who was present will ever forget the dramatic and thrilling mo- ment. The trainer, pitiful figure in his blood-stained spangles and tights, lay stretched at full length on his back. His scalp had been almost torn from his head. His face showed ghastly white under the streaks of blood, and only the cop- vulsive movements of his chest showed him to be still alive.
 Rajah, the great and beautiful beast, stood over the figure. Ills right forepaw rested lightly on the chest of the trainer, the jungle sign that the victim was his captive. His body was motionless but the tall stretched out straight and ficking slightly from side to side in sign of anger. His eyes blazed and his lips were curled back in snarl over the cruel yellow fangs.
 The animal was plainly ready for the kill, and should the paw sudden ly straighten and descend upon the head of the man 1t would have been crushed like an eggshell.
 It was but moment that the pic- ture lasted. The crowd, principally women and children, stood silent, fascinated by the horror of the scene Then the tension broke, and with screams of terror they turned and fled, women clutching their children and men trying to protect both from hurt in the panic-stricken rush for safety. From all over the grounds employees and men visitors were attracted by the turmoil and rushed in at the different entrances of the animal building. By keeping the entrance and the aisles clear the men succeeded In emptying the building of the women and children in a few minutes. Ali got out safely, although several women tainted.
 While this scene was being enact- ed the great tiger stood motionlese, surprised by the uproar all about him, as the four lions and two other tigers in the arena had begun to roar and scream and dash about the bar red space, keeping clear, however, Of Rajah and his victim. He seemed to hesitate about killing the man he had struck down.
 With the clash the doors Of tho arena opened The other animals rushed for the passage way and back into the open doors of their cages. Rajah alone remained in the arenR, never taking his paw from the brea1n of the trainer.
 If rife that was sure to kill had been at hand Rajah would have been shot down in his tracks. As 1t was the other trainers were afraid to take the chance of wounding the bis cat, for that would mean almost ccr~ tain death to Falkendorph. Their only chance was to rush into the arena and beat Rajah back before ho had time to strike.
 William Rinaldo and Joseph Ricar~ do, both trainers of wild animaIss armed themselves with the sharp tri- dents used against enraged beasts and with revolvers loaded with blank cartridges. As they reached the door to the big cage the two men began to fire their revolvers rapidly and ran to the side of Falkendorph. Rajah had not made move. With all tho force at their command, the two trainers drove their tridents into tho shoulders of the snarling beast. At the sting of the barbs Rajah shrank back, and again the tridents were sunk deep into his body.
 Startling and hissing the tiger was driven slowly back from the proc trate form of Falkendorph. and fnal- ly, under the torture of the tridents turned and fled to his cage.