Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-13

VTTAsHINGTON. d. c., June s-This is the sea-
wv when the circus roams abroad over the
face of the country, waking the echoes and
the late sleepers with calope delghting the small
boy with its clowns and stimulating the interest of
the most bored and sophisticated with its Gagged
monsters of the jungle. There is something about
the sight a Gagged wild animal that is curiousy fas-
cinating to civilized humanity The big cats-the
lions tigers and leopardsare sure to draw the crowd
Strange brues like the kangaroo and the giraffe may
claim attention by virtue of their outandsh architec-
ture but the supple carnivora with their CLASSY
staring be the centre of attraction.
Where there always supply. and
so long the public will pay it's quarters and half
dollars at lion or tiger, so long there
be 70 risk lives and fortunes in bringing them
lions and tigers look But a
hundred who look at the brutes behind bars has
any idea of the labor the and the danger in
volved In capturing and caging them. trapping
of wild animals for exhibition purposes probably
the most hazardous calling and the most full of
dlHcultles and dlsappointments practced today,
less it be the training of those after
they caught
Consider a comparatively simple and routine under
taking in this line such the capture lions,
of the standard the wiId-animal trade
The dealer must invest small fortune in Quitting
his expedition for the African bush. He hire
high-priced who combine training of
lists with iron constitutions the highest degree of
age, the administrative ability necessary direct
handle company Of hundreds of natives through
months of hard work and discoura cement, with in
finite patience and determination collectors of
in demand
Before the main expedition starts a small party
is generally sent in advance prepare the natives
guard against possible warfare These men distribute
presents, tell of the approaching expedition prom
Use the savages further gifts for cooperation In
spite of this the main body often trouble with
the people OF the country
Arrived the ground the trappers locate their
quarry and lay out plan of attack. The sport
of shooting the African lion where the hunter bends
his efforts toward bringing down game with smash
ing blows from the highestpowered the great
est possible distance, is dangerous enough
The dealer, however, get animal not only
alive but unnJured. In spite of every precaution
large number of the specimens caught cap
ture through the furious struggles that they make
for liberty. This represents items
of loss In the business, for trader has spent
thousands of dollars securing his animals and thou
sands more in caring for them in transport, only
have them die before they be put ship board.
There two methods of capturing lions having
for their detectives respectively the cubs full
animals. Many dealers the cubs of any
wild animal more desirable merchandise than
ture specimens because the cub is likely live
and thrive in captivity full-grown lion is likely
to pine and die confinement even after he is
safely delivered in Europe America, live in
continual state Of Ill temper sullen savagery
Nevertheless, many fugrown lions annually
and the finest specimens probably belong this class
for the beasts seem to attain perfect develop
ment in the wild state
The fugrown lion is trapped in simple box trap
baited with meat or in pitfall The lion is highly
cautious animal however and will sometimes sit medi-
tatvey in front of the door bated trap for hours
at time considering the matter, tantalizing
ector who is watching him through glass, only
to think better of it in the end and walk away. The
pitfall deep, seep-sded carefully rooted with
frail covering through which the breaks and
falls into the pit below. Such pits are dug with
labor, and while they placed spots which
the tracks show to be frequented by the animals
desired, they often catch nothing
Once the animal is caught he flies a frenzy of
fear and which often results in his njuring