The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-20
Geo. M. Shook Co. 81 4, S:; 5:? e.:
FEROCITY is AN
ANIMAL TRAIT
HEAD TRAINER FOR BARNUM
AND BAILEY GIVES SOME
INSIDE HISTORY
On Animals and Their Habits-Doeel-
ity ls Only Faneied and They
VIII Break Out Any Time.
BY HARRY J. MOONEY.


Head Trainer Barnum-BaiIey Circus
Some one once said that the more
he saw OF dogs. the lower opinion ne
had OF men. After thirty odd years
with pretty nearly every quadruped
that has ever been held in captivity,
I'D change that saying a bit. I'd say:
The more ! see OF men. the better
understand animals" for In every way
the four footed creatures nave the
traits and are moved by the same
passions that move their twOfooted
brethren. Love. hate. fear, courage
itreachery. yiciOusness. anger, jeal-
ousy, selfishness. greed. generosity.
self-sacrihce, every passion and attri-
butte OF which men are capable. the
animals have. although as REGARDS
many OF these attributes. in an inten-
isihed manner.
No matter how good-tempercd an
animal may be. no matter how trac-
table. how placid. he Is liable at any
moment 10 change TO a dangerous
blood-thirsty creature. intent only up
on killing his keeper. In the very
.tractability OF an animal lies the
greatest danger to the trainer. for It
II apt to make him careless. me
watchfulness he will observe with an
animal OF which he II uncertain n
allowed TO lapse. Is that moment or
careless for which the animal II ever
due 20 per cent OF the accidents and
attacks that fall TO animal trainers
A lion viii work himself into a
4 frenzy through Jealousy. / once knew
trainer who was almost killed by n
lioness who was Jealous. not OF an
other animal, but OF n woman. The
trainer was in the cage a. the time.
when he saw his daughter outside the
cage. He smiled at her. and the
| ioness saw r. In moment she was
a changed beast Her docility Was
changed 10 ferOclty. and che sprang
~ him. He was terribly injured be-
fore he was dragged from the cage.
Used 10 Strangers.
Animals become accustomed TO
strangers looking az them from out
side the cages. but n stranger inside
The bars would have little show Of
escaping alive Even experienced
trainers hesitate about entering a cage
until they get the beast used TO see
/ lng thom and hearing their voice
Animals vii nurse q Erudgo for years.
ana wait for an opportunity 10 have
revenge Tor some real OF fancicd 80
treatment BY man or mate. This e.
particularly true % elephants. We
had On elephant groom onco-somc
- years ago-who used 90 tease Mo-
doc. an old bull" elephant. every
chance he gOt The man was with the
circus only one season Ten years
later that man was nearly Killed by
Modoc In little town In the west
where the man lived and which the
show visited The elephant remem-
! bered his old tormcntor and reached
ior him while upon parade. and would
nave crushed him but Tor prompt aid
upon the part OF the trainers
The most troaChcroua animals are
the lcOpards and jaguars You hear
people. especially women. call them
poor pussy az they lle purrInE and
blinking ief them get close enough.
and they would nnd pussy would
scratch. Their slyuess and cunning
are wonderful. and they viii spring
az their trainer very often tho Instant
ME back iH turned NO two animals
are the same. They have individual
ties and charactrrstirs like humans
.lonf. particularly. are ilko men.
They are quite often slow 10 anger.
but when their temper la aroused they
are fnrlrs F0r children especially
'lephania often form Strong attach