Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-04-26

In the Baltimore fire, all of Mr.. Bos-
tocks 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 nne 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 we're 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
difnculty 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 AMI
NAL group ever assembled, was Cap
tain Bonavita's company Of thirty
lions. Everyone was fierce black
named Numidian lion Yet Captain
Bonavita had complete mastery over
them. Probably no greater animal
act will ever be seen than that pre-
sented when Captain Bonavita walked
into cage with the thirty lions and
put them through 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 arc often
spoken Of as tame" Animal train.
ers say there is no such thing as a
tame wild animal. Performing ami
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 performance. She thought
lessly took them and entered the
cage. A lion sprang forward and
made a sweep at the roses, fearfully
decorating Madame Pianka's arm and
chest. She threw the roses from her
just in time. For other lions leaped
from their pedestals and bounced on
the roses. They had mistaken them
for meat. At another time Mr.. Bos
took entered a cage to help Madame
Pianka with sulky lioness. He
thoughtlessly struck his whip against
his boot. Instantly the mate Of the
lioness. thinking no doubt that harm
was intended, sprang upon Mr.. Bos
took and downed him, then picked
him up in his mouth and carried him
to Madame Pianka. In the latter's
hand was a revolver. used in her act
She instantly fired two shots. which
was the cue for the next act, and the
lion dropped Mr.. Bostock and fell into
his accustomed pose. To this hold Of
habit upon the lion, Mr.. Bostocl
owed his life.
OF the hazards Of animal training
It is almost sdperfuous to speak
Every animal trainer is at times
clawed and bitten. He expects to be
It Is all In the days work.
Animal trainers say thatif they ex
ercise proper care, they run no great
er risk than do miners, locomotive en-
gineers, iron-workers and other mer
who follow hazardous callings. Per
haps that is true; certainly, one mar
is on record who handled animals
with entire impunity. His name wa.
Noah and he lived In the ark.