Year: 1868

whip, he struck the lion a blow In the
face that made him vince and falter.
The latter dared not defend himself. and
Batty, still the master of his savage and
rebellious domain, gave one stern glance
to satisfy himself that peace had been
restored, and retired from the scene
wounds were severe and nothing but his
own indomitable energy saved his life.
To those who looked at that mortal
struggle, that deadly embrace of raging
growing monsters, who. maddened by
the taste of blood and the memory of
past wrongs, seemed to hold their tyrant
in their tolls, like LAGOON in the grasp
of the serpents, but one result appeared
possible, and it was with heartfelt sighs
of relief and enthusiast cvivas that Battv
was seen to emerge from the contest still
- man, and holding his own as of old


Plucky as ever, he will ere long retn,n
again to the arena. His wounds though
deep. only penetrated the flesh and no
bones were broken or arteries severed.
They are rapidly healing and Ba,ty's
iron frame and robust constitution will
quickly recover from the inroad they
have made upon it. Stran &c as it NAV


appear, since the illness Of their master
the lions seem to miss him and long
for his return. They are melancholy
and restless. They pace the floor OF
their cage to and fro, as if seeking
ething they could not find AT the
usual hour of their exhibition they are
more agitated than ever. 1t said they
also feel the want of loud applause with
which they have always been received,
with other great actors and public per-
formers ! a#4+%s5"3


Batty is now 80 years of age. He is
an Am erican by birth, but early left the
United States to enter the service of his
uncle. who for a long time was the man
ager of Astley's Amphitheatre in London.
From his earliest years he had strange
affection for wild animals He would


enter their cage without fear, and his in
fluence over them was such that the bold
est could not withstand it. They seemed
fascinated by the powerful glance of
his piercing eyes. His father was
frightened at the peculiar and dangerous
proclivities of his son and did his best
to restrain him, but without effect
Threats and blows were alike unavail-
ing, and at length Batty fed to Africa
| to avoid the harsh treatment to which
! he was exposed. There for years, he


led wild and solitary life, and wander
| ed from forest to forest, from one savage
tribe TO another. His deeds of intre-


pidity were Incredible by th cir audacity,


and the rude sympathy of his restless


and untamed nature found abundant


qualification. Among the wild beasts of


Africa he was perfectly at home, and he


left them with regret. Some two or


three years ago he made his appearance


in Paris, that great caravanserai of the


world and he and his lions were receiv-


ed with unbounded applause. His mus


cular development is wonderful, and in


strength and agility he almost equals
the monsters with whom so much or his
life has been spent iie can run like fawn


and leap like a leopard, and often it has


been his fortune to struggle for his life,


as he has just done, face to face aud
| shoulder 70 shoulder, and often has he


gained the victory by sheer force OF


muscle. In spite OF the severity and
| painfulness OF his wounds. Batty would


not see physician. His indomitah!e !e


courage and solitary instincts led him to


seclude hims ELF, like a sick or wounded


lion, from the rest of his species, trust


ing to the recuperative powers of nature.


1t would seem his confidence has not


been in vain. and his own natural vigor


has been his only medicine. il