Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-09-22
WHIPPED THE LION
A Contest Between Human and
Brute Strength.
sANsDoW WAS 1AE wc7eR.


Stripped to the Whist, the Strong Man
WrsstIed With the Enraoed Animal
Who Wac Mittened and Muxzled, and
Thoroughly subdued Him.
The story that Richard, later term
ed "Coeur de Lion" derived his name
from the feat of tearing n 1--we lions
heart out Of It's body is usually re-
garded today as apochryphal. At this
distance Of time It Is impossible to
tell what was the truth. But II Rich
ard had the strength of Sandow and
6tfove with the lion under condition.
similar to those under which Sandow
wrestled with 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:
It was to be d struggle between
brute strength and human strength,
Merely In order to prevent the Hon
from tearing me to pieces with his
claws, mittens were to be placed on
his feet and a muzzle over his head.
This lion. I must tell you, was par
ticularly fierce animal and only a
week before had enjoyed a dish that
was not on the menu-his keeper.
Well. the engagement was accord
ingly made and "a Laon Fight with
Sandow" widely advertised. The an
nouncement, I am told. sent a thrill
through the cities for hundred miles
round. and in order TO be equipped for
a performance which would be found
to attract hundreds Of thousands Of
people I decided to rehearse my fight
With the lion beforehand.
I had It In my mind that the effect
Of mittening and muxzling the beast
might be to put him or the fight by
frightening him, and, realizing how
foolish should appear facing lion
that would not fight, I was DESTROYS
Of making certain that this should not
be the case.
Accordingly the lion was mitteped
and muzzled. but only With the aid Of
six strong men. and entered the cage
unarmed and stripped to the waist
What happened was in direct opposi-
ton to my expectations; bagging his
paws and fncasing his head In a wire
cage only served to enrage the brute;
and NO sooner had I stepped inside
than he crouched preparatory to
sprin8ing upon ME.
His eyes ablaxe with fury, he hurled
himself through the cir, but missed,
Tor had stepped aside, and before he
had time to recover l caught him with
my left arm round the throat and
round the middle with my right, and,
although his weight was $50 pounds, I
Lifted him as high as my shoulder, gave
him huge hug to instin into his mind
that he must respect mo and tossed
him to the floor.
Roaring with rage, the beast rushed
fiercely toward me and raised his huge
paw to strike a heavy blow at my
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.
If only he struck me once I knew Il
would be my coup de grace, and tooh
particular care that he never should.
AS I ducked my head to avoid the
blow I succeeded In fettihg a good
grip round the lions body. with my
chest touching his and his feet ovei
my shoulders and Rugged him with al
7 my strength. The moro he scratched
and tore the harder Rugged him, and
although his feet were protected by
mittens, his claws tore through my
tights and part of my skin. But hat
him az In a wise; his mighty efforts Il
, get away proved of NO avail.
Before leaving the cage, however,
was determined to try. Just one othe
, feat Moving away from the lioh,
, blood with my back toward him. thu
, openly inviting him to jump on me
At once he sprang right on my back.
| Throwing up my arms, gripped hi
bead, then caught him firmly by tn
= neck and In one moment shot hin
Clean over my bead, assisted by tn
, animals own impetus, and launche,
, him before me Ike d sack Of sawdust
the action causing him to turn a con,
plete somersault
r While be lay there dared, the doc
was unlocked, and went out, my leg
q and neck bleeding and with scratche
! all over my body. But for these triae
: l cared nothing. felt that had COZ
|, Huered that Lion and that should hav
little difficulty In mastering It on tn
next occasion in public.
30 thoroughly was he tanned, how
over, that the great fight lasted bu
t two minutes. When he would fight u