The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-06-11
BY a Times Reporter


Ed Woelkener, the Sousa of
the white tops, was opening the
nights show of the AL G. Barnes
circus with flourish of his baton
when Martha Florene. the Loop
ard lady, chased negro tent
man past me.
In her hand she flourished a
stick. AS the negro darted around
corner of the canvas she shook
II at him and cried:
Don't you ever dare throw
anything at Dave again. III you
do I'll have you arrested.
WHO is Dave?" l asked.
She wheeled on her heel, drop
ped her stick and smiled.
Excuse me- she said. 81
was SO angry. That negro threw
stone at Dave. Dave is one of
my leopards."
Whereupon the lady of the
leopards began to powder her
nose.
"They tell me that two of your
leopards nearly killed you in
Oklahoma last year. Are the
same leopards in your act now?"
Come with me. I'll show you
one of them" she said, and led
me to their wagon cage where
back and forth they paced.
That is Dave" she said,
pointing to one of the largest of
the leopards. l caught a note of
sadness in her voice.
And he jumped you, nearly
killed your" ! asked.
She sighed and shrugged her
shoulders.
Naughty!
YES she replied. Dave was
naughty boy. He and Trixie-
Trixie is dead. A lion ate him
tried to eat me.
1t was in the morning, before
the show and we were in parade.
/ was locked in their wagon cage
with them. turned my back.
Dave leaped on me. The shock
threw me from my seat to the
ground.
Il tried to get up, but |
couldn't. Dave was so strong.
Then I began to talk to him and
he seemed to half understand
until Trixie, the other leopard,
leaped on me too.
Il was frightened then. Trixie
sank his teeth in my leg. He be-
gan to chew, slowly at first; then
faster
"Oh the pain was intense. !
tried to steel myself to keep from
crying out in pain. / was afraid
that cry-showing ! was afraid
would bring the other leopard
on me too. There were four
others in the cage.
/ And then it hurt so ! began
to cry quietly to myself. ] could
see the crowds lined on the street.
At first-oh it seemed so long
they did not see what was the
matter.
Then when they did they be-
gan to shout, but the band was
playing and the driver did not
hear. He drove right on.
Don't, Trixie,' l kept saying
to the leopard eating at me. Don't!
But he kept right on. l couldn't
use my whip. Dave was holding
down my arms.
And then everything got
black. They got me out some
way. ! was in the hospital a
long time-four months. When
came out / worked the same
act, Dave and Trixie with the
rest, and then a lion ate Trixie.
A cage man got the cages mixed.
He sent poor Trixie into the lion S
cage. 1t seemed almost like an
act of God, didn't it,"
No Resentment.
Don't you feel some resent
ment toward Dave?" | asked.
She smiled and shook her head.
No." she replied. Il don't. ]
love them all-my animals. They
do not know any better. Poor
things they are taken from the
wild and made prisoners for life. "
Does Dave ever show any
sign when you are in the arena
with him of remembering his at
tack on your"
mo. He is just the same as
before. But leopards you can
never trust. There is something
different about them. l love
them; but l never trust them"
Then Martha Florene led me to
the kennels where the trick dogs
welcomed her with yelps of glad
ness.
The lady Of the leopards had at
least made friends with them.
TIrninnr IN r,nn rho cnid.