LION AND TIGER STORIES.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1759, 18 June 1886, Page 6

LION AND TIGER STORIES.

Herr Driesbach'a life was full of remarkable incidents, and he frequently took pleasure in relating events of his life. The following is in his own words : — "I was exhibiting in the city of Baltimore. We were playing a piece in which one of my tigers was to suddenly leap from above upon me as if to kill me. After it would jump on to me we would roll around on the floor, to all appearances engaged in mortal combat. The Theatre in which we were playing had a large pit, and it was filled almost to suffocation that evening with boys and men. This time the tiger jumped over my head, and was flying for the pit, when I caught him by the tail and hauled him back. I needn't tell you that standing room was made mighty quick in that pit when they saw the animal coming. They rushed out pell-mell, screaming for me to hold on to him." When Edwin Forrest was playing at the Bowery Theatre in New Yot_ his piece was followed by an exhibition of lions by their trainer, Herr

Driesbach. During their stay there Forrest remarked one day that he had never experienced the emotion caused by fright — that he was never scared in his life. Driesbach heard the remark, and one evening took Forrest home with bim. They entered a house, and, after parsing through long and devious dark passages, Driesbach opened a door and said — " This way, Mr Forrest." As Forrest entered the door was slammed behind him. Forrest felt something touch his leg in the darkness, and reaching down his hand touched what he thought was a cat's back, which he gently stroked. A rasping growl greeted the motion and he saw two fiery eyeballs glaring at him." " Are you afraid, Mr Forrest T* asked the lion-tamer, who was invisible in the darkness. Forrest replied, " Not a bit," when the lion- tamer said something and the growl deepened and the back began to arch. Forrest held out for a few minutes, when he exclaimed—" Now let me out you infernal scoundrel, or I'll break every bone in your body." The lion king kept him there and he did not dare to move a finger, while the lion kept rubbing against his leg. Forrest finally promised a champagne supper if Driesbach would let him out, which was done and the bet was immediately paid. While travelling along the Ohio river one season Herr Driesbach was wanted in Cincinnati to give an exhibition at the old Wood's Theatre. He was showing in Zanesville when he received a flattsring offer by telegraph and he accepted. Hastily caging a tiger in an ordinary store box he proceeded to the Ohio river, and started for Cincinnati by boat. He registered himself as Herr Driesbach, andthe tiger as " Col. Alexander." No one except the captain of the boat knew who " Col. Alexander " was, although he was assigned to Driesbach's room in the boat. After the boat put off, thß passengers became jolly from frequent centre shots on a black bottle. It was decided to visit Driesbach's room and ascertain if he had anything good. The lion-tamer assented, and taking his companions thither, opened the door for them. A bottle was found, and Driesbach excused himself to get a pitcher of water. The tiger was not visible when the crowd entered the room, having crawled under a bunk to which he was chained, as his tamer had removed him from the store box. Presently those inside the room heard a scratching and growling, and " Col. Alexander " emerged from under the bunk and prepared to leap. The crowd rushed headlong for the door, through which they scrambled in their hurry to leave the room. Driesbach met them outside and laughed heartily at their fright, and, taking the tiger's chain, led him around the boat for passengers to fondle. — Pittsburg Dispatch.