The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-07

the tameness Of Il really wild animal
Is never more than external. And
yet Il good trainer always prefers a
fresh animal, that is, one that mas
been in no other hands than his.
1t is really easier to get acquainted
with such an animal, they say, ana
he has no tricks which nave to be un-
learned. "Lion deals are much like
horse deals,' says one trainer. "You
don't know anything about what o
are getting until he's yours, and then
the less there is to find out the bet
terri
In spite OF the fact THAT wild ami
mails are supposed to have walked the
streets of Rome and to have existed
comparatively unconfincd on the es-
tatcs Of Eastern Empcrors. the train
IN" OF wild beasts in It's present shape
Is only some fifty ~ sixty Years old.
The American pioneer was Isaac Van
Amhur2h. "The Lion Tamrr.'' WHO
was born about 1919 in Fishkill. y.
y. and died in Philadelphia in 1873.
lie is still dear to the nrart Of I'LL
those who Yer children in tilr COS.
Van Amburgh's menaycric was "a
Great Moral Slow,' uncontaminat-
ed by fair cqucStrians in abbreviated
fluffy skirts. Even the clergy were
known to ]patrunize il. His pcrrur-
nance did not extend much beyond
entering The lions den.
The next advance in the profession
was made by Il man uamcG White, an
employee of Barnum & Bailcv's
Greatest Show on Earth. who rode ia
Il cage Of lions in the circus street
parade. Americans were first intro
luccd to the higher education of wild
animals at the Columbian Exposition
in Chicago in 1893. when Carl Hay
enhrrk exhibited simultaneously and
phi Through Il numbcr Of tricks Il
collection If several lions, great Dane
dos and other wild animals.
The next stare of the development.
Of animal training WAS Shown AT the
Pan-.\mcrican Exposition in Buffalo.
IN 1901. by Drank Rostnck. Almost
all the famous trainers Of today have
served on apprenticeship Il; the lag
cnbcck or the Bostock school.
y few Years a"o Jack Bonavila.
the lion tanner. WAS attacked while
exhibiting nj Conev Island by Balti-
n,rn - az III, E,,l- \I;il,, a.,
warming the beast suddenly hurled
himself AT Bonavita, knocked him
down and buricl his teeth in The
trainers right forearm. When Bona-
vita was asked aflcrward if he didn't
think al this moment that his time
had come he replied:
con nc, I merely wondered what
would happen next and determined
to take advantage Of anything that
turned up.'
CAS- soon rs the other lions saw
thai | was down it was a signal for
the general fighting to beoin. Now.
ii happened tHat Denver. tie biggest
lion | owned. had ii in for ln4m.ar.
Ralt;n.nrr's chum am size partner.
'Whilc Baltimore was Sianlin"
"vrr me | Suldrnly heard In."mar'<
cal! for help. Baltimore let =" Of M.
Immediately to dash to the assistance
Of his chum. who WAS b';U" maul>I
by Ir"S"'. IT.. evidently intended
t" rctnrn and finish me later on"
lie got the chance. for Bona.
vita was ON his feet in Il minute. and
with pistol and whip m"Mh&cN -
Qnrll tile riot and drive tnc lions
back into their cages. Th"n nr went
to the hospital and had the remains
Of his arm amrulatrh. II all sounds
very simple. but the slightest miSSlcp
or characterization would probably
have cost Bonavita his life.
Another sine when Bonavila was
showing his lions IT Annapolis H.
VAS poSin" with The beasts grouped
about aim when Denver. who was sit
ting beside him, gently Turned his
shaggy head and closed his jaws over
The trainers arm. Bonavita moved
the arm gently toward The lion. be-
cause drawing it away would have
an%crcd Denver and @cn::rl him to
tighten his hold.
With onr arm imprisoned ne WAS
powrrlrSS to defend himself. There
was but one thing left to fry. Bona
vita gave the three taps with his
heels. which usually dispersed the
group of lions 10 their various places.