Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-08-27
WHIPPED THE LION
A Contest Between Human and
Brute Strength.
sANDoW WAS THE VICTOR.

Stripped 10 the Walst, the Strong Man
Wrestlsd With the Enrassd Animal,
Who Was Mittened and MuxxIed, and
Thoroughly Subdued Him.
The story that Richard. later term
ed "Coeur de Lion" derived his name
from the feat OF tearing a live lions
heart out Of Its body is usually re-
garded today as apochryphai. At this
distance of time 1t is impossible to
tell what was the truth. But II Rich.
ard had the strength of Sandow and
strove with the Lion under conditions
similar to those under which Sandow
wrestled with q menagerie lion In San
Francisco some years ago there may
be a basis of fact for the legend. In
the Strand Magazine Mr.. Sandow told
of the event;
1t was to be a struggle between
brute strength and human strength.
Merely in order to prevent the lion
from tearing me to pieces with his
claws. mittens were to be placed on
his feet and a muzzle over his head
This lion. l must tell you. was a par
ticularly fierce animal and only
week before had enjoyed a dish that
was not on the menu-his keeper.
Well, the engagement was accord
ingly made and "a Lion Fight with
Sandow" widely advertised The an.
nouncement, am told. sent a thrill
through the cities for a hundred miles
round. and in order to be equipped for
a performance which would be found
to attract hundreds of thousands Of
people decided to rehearse my fight
with the lion beforehand.
had 1t In my mind that the effect
Of mittening and muzzling the beast
might be to put him or the fight by
frightening him. and. realizing how
foolish should appear facing a lion
that would not fight, was desirous
of making certain that this should not
be the case.
Accordingly the lion was mittened
and muzzled. but only with the aid of
six strong men. and l entered the cage
unarmed and stripped to the waist.
What happened was in direct opposi-
tion to my expectations: bagging his
paws and incasing bis head In q wire
cage only served to enrage the brute.
and no sooner had I stepped inside
than he crouched preparatory to
springing upon me.
His eyes ablaze with fury, he hurled
himself through the air, but missed,
for had stepped aside, and before he
had time to recover / caught him with
my left arm round the throat and
round the middle with my right, and,
although his weight was $50 pounds,
lifted him as high as my shoulder, gave
him huge hug to fnstili into his mind
that he must respect me and tossed
him to the door.
Roaring with rage. the beast rushed
lercely toward me and raised his huge
head. As his paw cut through space
felt the air fairly whistle and realized
not only my lucky escape. but the
lions weak point and my strong one.
II only he struck me once I knew It
would be my coup de grace, and took
particular care that he never should
AS ducked my head to avoid the
blow succeeded In getting a good
grip round the lions body, with my
chest touching his and his feet over
my shoulders and Rugged him with all
my strength. The more he scratched
and tore the harder hugged him, and,
although his feet were protected by
mittens, his claws tore through my
tights and part of my skin. But had
him as In wise; his mighty efforts to
get away proved of no avail.
Before leaving the cage, however.
was determined to try just one other
feat. Moving away from the lion,
stood with my back toward him, thus
openly inviting him to jump on me.
At once he sprang right on my back.
Throwing up my arms, gripped his
head, then caught him firmly by the
neck and in one moment shot him
clean over my head, assisted by the
animals own impetus, and launched
him before me like a sack of sawdust,
the action causing him to turn COM
plete somersault-
While he day there, dazed, the door
was unlocked. and I went out, my legs
and neck bleeding and with scratches
all over my body. But for these tribes
cared nothing. felt that had con-
quered that lion and that should have
little difficulty in mastering 1t on the
next occasion In public.
So thoroughly was he tanned, how
ever, that the great hght lasted but
two minutes. When he would fight no
more I lifted him up and walked round
the arena with him on my shoulders,
he remaining as firm as a rock and as
nrrtof nlA ohaon