MENACED BY BEARS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 124, 18 February 1933, Page 15

MENACED BY BEARS

Trainer in Dark Cage LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAIL Janesco, the animiil trainer who was shut up iu a cage with six polar bears for a quarter of tin hour when, the lights failed at the Nottinghamshire Empire music hall, described Ills sensations to a “Dally Mail” reporter ly"Bears are the most dangerous of all wild animals,” he said. “It does not matter how well you treat 'them, their natural ferocity is sure to break out. “I never take my eyes off them during any stage performance, and I was (frightened when the lights- went -out. It wns the most nerve-racking ordeal I have experienced. “I felt them rubbing against me in the dark, and I knew that if one of them even scratched me and drew blood the others would be on me at once, and it would be all over. My only means of defence was a short whip. “I felt like a man in a sinking ship, as I knew it was a pure chance whether I should come out alive. “It was the longest quarter of au hour I have known. At times my limbs felt like load, but I had to keep moving away. One of the bears tore my trouser leg. but fortunately did not scratch me. “There was a dim light from a Window which enabled me to see their green eyes aud white fur, but I knew they could see me all right, for bears can see better in the dark than iu the light. “Then some attendants brought Hashlamps. Two of the biggest bears had planted themselves against, the cage door. I thirk they were scared of the darkness and wanted to get out, but they kept me from escaping. “You can make sure of a liou, and sometimes of a tiger, but never of a bear.”