Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-09
JOHNSON OPERA HOUSE.
MOTION PICTURES AND VAUDEVILLE. FINE PICTURES
FINE ACT FINE MUSIC AID MISSION 10 CENTS.

what you'd call brilliant student, but
after five OF six weeks he can jump
through a hoop and sit on t6p of a bar
ell. All the time he roars and frequent
y makes passes at George with one
Jaw till Duval burns him with a hot
iron.
After about three months we put up
big posters of Tartar and start him in
thes how. He makes a hit at the jump.
some days he does his tricks, and some
lays he don't, but he keeps up his vocal
Efforts, continuously frightening the wO-
men and children and attracting the
nultitudes
Time goes on and he don't seem to
gain weight right. He leaves him meat
llone and finally we switch to a bran
mash, which proves nourishing. With
he change in diet Tartar begins to grow
Seeker and fatter but his howls remain
Up to par in ferceness.
George don't never get used to him.
Hes really plumb scared. Most every
hight as soon as he begun to feel his
liquor he'd say, Some day I'll have to
Kill Tartar or Tartar will kill me- and
hen he'd weep in his beer
'He had another spiel he used to
spring just before put him to bed.
Tartar fears me when I look him in the
aye,' he'd say but just let me turn my
back and he would rend me from limb to
limb. It's a struggle all the time be-
tween two great brains-the brain of the
beast and the brain of man.. I'd pat
him on the back and calm lin by telling
tar's and that there wouldn't be no
scrap.
Things went on that way for about
two years, and George begins to have
dreams ana see omens. i dreamt of a
crutch last night he'd say, and that
means death
THE next day it was a black cat he
dreamed of, and that meant DEATH too.
somehow or other he managed to worry
along without nothing happening be-
tween him and the lion.
1T was one day along about the end of
the season that things broke I'd fin
iShed my spiel about Duval the Death
Defer and Tartar the Terrible, ana walk
ed inside. just as l open the door I hear
the most fierce howl of TartarS and the
of women and children. ] look
1T the stage on an instant and see
George STOPPING to pick up his whip and
Tartar crouching for a spring right be-
hind him. George he turns as he hears
the yells. and as he does Tartar he
Jumps George goes spinning slam bang
On the floor like he was hit in one of
hose college football games. The lions
Jump carried him past Duval. but he
crawls round toward where he's lying. 1
lose my nerve: I can't do thing; 1 just
shut my eyes.
The most awful shrieks of the women
ring in my ears now when / think of it.
hear lots of men bowling orders in the
wings, and l just make myself look to
see what's happening. Tartar bends
over George and sort of mouths him
around the floor of the cage. He pushes
him clean up against the bars, and then
he sits back with the most mournful
look I ever saw on a dumb beast. His
Jaw drops and he looks fairly ready to
cry. George lies still for a couple of
and when nothing happens he |
ooks up.
AN attendant had Just got his senses
together enough to fetch a gun. and he |
sticks it through the bars right up |
against Tartar's head. Hold on. there
says George. observing what's the mat
er as soon as he sees the droop of the
ions mouth. Don't shoot poor old Tar
ar; he hasn't Got a tooth left in his |
head |
Tartar, he dies of broken heart the |
1eXt week. and Duval the Death Defer |
ne gets out an act called Uncle Georges |
Sats-Fun for the Children. His repu-
alton as wild animal trainer was |
gone. New York Telegraph.