Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-09-21
h 0IpPED THE LION
a Contest Between Human and
Brute Strength.
ssUOow WAS THE VICTOR.

.Ur...lsd With the Enrssed Animal.
Who Was Mittensd and Muzxied. and
Thoroughly suhdusd Him.
The story that Richard. later term
"A Occur de Lion" derived his name
rom the feat of tearing 1--we lions
,oort out Of It's body Is usually re-
,,,rded today as apochryphaL At this
distance OF time Il Is impossible to
,el what was the truth. But II Rich
ara had the strength OF SRndow and
s,rove with the lion under conditions
similar TO those under which Sandow
wrestled with a menagerie lion In San
Francisco some years ago there may
no n basis Of fact for the legend In
tho strand Magazine Mr.. Sandow told
of the event:
II was 10 be struggle between
brute strength and human strength
Merely in order 10 prevent the lion
from tearing me TO pieces with his
claws. mittens were TO be placed on
his feet and n muzzle over his head
This lion. must tell you. was n par
ticularly 6erce animal and only a
week before had enjoyed a dish that
was not on the menu-his keeper.
Well. the engagement was accord
incly made and "a Lion Fight with
Sandow' widely advertised The an
pounccment. I am told. sent a thrill
through the cities for a hundred miles
round. and I'm order to be equipped for
n performance which would be found
20 attract hundreds OF thousands OF
people | decided to rehearse my fight
with the lion beforehand.
had Il I'm my mind that the effect
Of mittening and muzzling the beast
might be TO put him OF the flgh, by
frightening him. and. realizing how
foolish should appear facing a lion
that would not fight. was DESTROYS
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 entered the cage
unarmed and stripped TO the waist
What happened was In direct opposi-
ton 20 my expectations; bagging his
paws and incasing his head In a wire
cage only served to enrRge the brute.
and no sooner had I stepped inside
than he crouched preparatory TO
springing upon me.
His eyes ablaze with fury, be hurled
himself through the air, but missed,
for had stepped aside. and before he
had time 10 recover 1 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 "a my shoulder, gave
him huge hug 10 instill into his mind
that be must respect me and tossed
him 10 the door.
Roaring with rage. the beast rushed
dercely toward me and raised his huge
paw 20 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
Hons weak point and my strong one.
II only be struck me once / knew Il
would be my coup de grace. and / took
particular care that be never should.
As | ducked my head 10 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 Rugged 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 20
get away proved OF no avail.
Before leaving the cage, however.
was determined TO try just one other
ieat Moving away from the lion.
stood with my back toward him. thus
openly inviting him TO Jump on me.
Al once he sprang right on my back.
throwing up my arms. gripped his
mead, then caught him firmly by the
neck and in one moment shot him
clean over my head, assisted by the
ahinaIs own impetus. and launched
MN before me like a sack of sawdust.
TIE action causing him to turn a com.
plete somerSauIt
While he lay there. dazed. the door
was unlocked. and went out. my legs
ana neck bleeding and with scratches
al over my body. But for these trifes
cared nothing. felt that had con-
quered that lion and that should have
n'ue difficulty In mastering II on the
next occasion In public.
40 thoroughly was he tanned, how
ever that the great fight lasted but
'"o minutes. When he would fight no
more lifted him up and walked round
,"e arena with him on my shoulders,
ue remaining as firm as a rock and as
quiet as an old sheep.