The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-06-20

in the Baltimore fire, all of Mr. BOs-
tock's performing animals were de-
stroyed. He had only three months
in which to get together and train the
greatest animal groups ever assem-
bled. BY morning Europe was being
combed with a fine comb to furnish
him with new animals. Training went
on day after day, night after night,
until trainers and beasts were almost
dead with fatigue.
Several of the groups exhibited
there were memorable. Twenty leap
ards had been assembled and taught
to walk ropes, shoot guns, jump hur-
dies, ride bicycles. roll barrels and
pose in many positions. Another
group, which consisted of seventeen
animals, included lions, tigers, pumas.
bears, hyenas, boar hounds, wolves
and one panther. In addition to the
difficulty of teaching these beasts to
perform there was the task OF train
ing them to forget their natural In
sincts and enter a cage together with
out fighting.
Most remarkable of all these groups
and in fact the most remarkable anil
NAL group ever assembled, was Cap
tain Bonavita's company of thirty
lions. Everyone was fierce black
named Numidian lion. Yet Captain
Bonayita had complete mastery over
them. Probably no greater animal
act will ever be seen than that pre-
sented when Captain Bonavita walked
into a cage with the thirty lions and
nut them through a variety OF exer-
cises that eliminated in the forma-
ton of huge armchair of lions, IN
which the trainer sat unconcernedly
and read his newspaper.
Animals so schooled are often
spoken of as tame" Animal train
ers say there is no such thing as
tame wild animal Performing anil
mails are trained, not tanned. They
do not reason, but go through their
tricks parrot-like.
Serious indeed may be the outcome
of any innovation made while the
, trainer is Gagged with his pupils. On
> one occasion an admirer OF Madame
: Pianka sent her some red roses just
before a performance. She thought
lessly took them and entered the
t cage. A lion sprang forward and
' made a sweep at the roses. fearfully
decorating Madame Piankas arm and
z chest She threw the roses from her
g lust in time. For other lions leaped
l. from their pedestals and pounced on
n the roses. They had mistaken them
a for meat. At another time Mr.. Bos
r took entered cage to help Madame
J. Pianka with a sulky lioness. He
O thoughtlessly struck his whip against
3 his boot Instantly the mate OF the
lioness, thinking no doubt that harm
u was intended. sprang upon Mr.. Bos
p took and downed him, then picked
o him up In his mouth and carried him
1t to Madame Pianka. In the latter
n hand was revolver, used In her act
10 She instantly fred two shots. whicl
Id was the cue for the next act, and tn
e. lion dropped Mr. Bostock and fell Int
st his accustomed pose. To this hold O
to habit upon the lion. Mr.. Bostoc
is owed his life.
It OF the hazards of animal trainin
re 1t is almost superfiuous to speal
III Every animal trainer Is at time
1t clawed and bitten. He expects to b'
Ill 1t Is all in the days work.
Animal trainers say that II they e,
&C. ercise proper care, they run no grea
al er risk than do miners, locomotive Ell
"a gineers, iron-workers and other me
lie who follow hazardous callings. Pc
M haps that is true; certainly one ma
DIV Is on record who handled anima
in with entire impunity. His name WI
~. Noah and he lived In the ark.