The sun., 1910-05-16
'LIOEESS PULLS HER TRAINER
THEN TRIES TO MIL hin ~
THE BOSTOCK SHOW.

Peter TalloF. Trainer, lnierferea ~ Fighl
between Duchess and a Polar Hear
IN an Act Duchess Tears llls Arm and
springs On IliH-A Prompt Rescue.
Duchess. a ioness whose temper has
not yet become dulled with much exhibit
ing. felled Peter Taylor. her trainer,
during one Of the performances before a
large Sunday afternoon crowd at Bos-
tOcks animal show in Dreamland. Coney
Island. yesterday aud had her muEzle
cropping for his throat when emergency
men with steel spears prodded her away
and saved the trainer. Taylor had his
left arm ripped open nom elbow 70 wrist
by the one vicious sWipe he received from
the liOness.
The accident took place az one Of the
late afternoon performances when the
circular arena was packed with spocta-
tors. Taylor came on with his four lions
and two bears. all new 10 COney Island.
and. as II developed. not well enough
acquainted with one another. The lions
are all nearly full grown. the bears. one
Of tho cinnamon persuasion and one
white polar. are both ingenues.
After the six animals had ambled
through the door into the barred perform
ing platform and Taylor. dressed In a
oostuRe Of brilliant newness. had given
his whip a few preliminary cracIR the
lions were made 10 90 through their first
act II was not dificult. but Duchess
showed at the beginning her teeth and
temper Il occurred 70 some that the
lioness even overdid Der part. Taylor
was careful not 20 get too Close 70 her.
and when abe sulked at her tricks the
trainer did not urge her beyond some
sharp stingings with the lash.
Taylor's act finishes with the formation
Of a pyramid by the animals, ranging
around with their forepaws on high
stools and Duchess straddhnE the lot
from the tops OF two higher casks over
their heads. Yesterday the trainer had
difficulty in getting the three lions be-
sides Duchess TO keep their positions.
When he had them standing solemnly
with their paws folded atop the painted
barrels Taylor went after tho big polar
J bear
| The whip snapped and the big white
haar went numbering 70 his place But
a. he passed tho two elevated casks. on
which Duchess stood snarling, the
/ liOness reached down with a lightning
drop Of her paw and raked the bear
across the back lie Immediately lifted
up his snout and barred his teeth in chal-
lenge.
That was enough for Duchess. She
dropped down from her perch and went
right after the bear. who settled back on
hrs haunohes with paws poised Tor the
defence. There was a restless stir among
tho other animals in their places as
Duchess gave a sharp catlike yell and
closed with the aristOcrat from the north.
TAYLOR, who was on the other side Of
the pyramid when the fight began, jumped
around and into the middle Of u. He
booted the bear In the snout and then
began 10 lay about the tanks Of the
hon. with his whip. Several times the
lash iried and bit into the sleek hide of
the irritable lady from Beohuanaland
She felt the third sting and broke away
from the hear instantly.
There was yellow streak Of thoroughly
mad loneas, a barking roar and Taylor
went ten feet and more against the railing
Duchess had risen on her hind legs for
NlLMN n NNMNNl0A " n HFNNNAA anu laAA
launched her night paw az the trainer
with all the force behind her tensed
muscles. The claws raked away the
whole arm of the gaudy uniform and those
VINO were sitting down IN the front seats
could sec the red Eouts that jumped from
the white Of the uncovered skin.
The instant that Taylor fell. his whip
flying far from him and his head nodding
from partial insensibility. the lioness
was on him. her front feet pinning his
chest down az a cat pins a mouse.
There were shrieks and clamOr from
the spectators Those directly m front
OF the Gagged arena jumped 20 their feet.
their hands over their eyes. and rushed
on the heels Of those behind them already
making for the exits One man ran down
20 the side Of the gratings and Jabbed
the lioneas time and again with his UNI
brella yelling and Cursing At her,
Hardly had Duchess pushed Taylor
20 the floor when the getaway door at the
back Of the cage opened and falkendOrph,
one OF Bostocks trainers. and Jack
BOnavita. who lost his right arm In the
lion BaltimOre's mouth several years
ago. rushed IN with revOlvers cooked.
talkendorph carried a sharp steel trident
in his left hand. and this he drove into
the flank Of the hOness until the blood
flowed. Il took jus, two prods. then
Duchess leaped o. the trainers body
and over 70 the opposite side Of the cage
where she crouched, Kissing and splitting
Ths trainers carried Taylor out Of the
cage. and Dr. y Nash. who lives near by.
was hurried 70 his bedside IN the BOstOck
quarters. The physician cautsrized the
rips in Taylor's arm that the lioness's
claws had made. and then sewed them up.
He said thatunless blood poisoning follows
Taylor will suffer no serious consequences
Ofsthe experience.