IN THE LION'S DEN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1943, 27 March 1875, Page 4

IN THE LION'S DEN.

A wild beast tamer,' named Bidel, who is just now exhibiting his menagerie near the Cl'ateau-d'Eau, Paris, narrowly escaped being torn to pieces a few days back. Be had, as usual, entered the large cage in which he had assembled three lions, two hyenas, two bears, a jackal, a sheep, and an elephant, when one of the lions and one of ihe bean commenced to growl at each other, and

then to fight. Bidel interposed, and, seizing the bear by the flesh of the neck dragged that animal away from its adversary, but the lion not liking this intervention, struck at the tamer with its paw, tearing the flesh off his hand, and laying open his leg down to the knee. The cage was sprinkled with blood, which the bear began to lick up, and, as the man remarked, seemed to find it to his taste. A moment's hesitation, and the tamer would have been devoured, but he fortunately did not lose his presence • of mind. Advancing straight to the two animals, he delt them each some heavy blows with his whip, and when he had brought them crouching to his feet he quietly stepped from the cage. A feeling of terror had spread among the audience, and only calmed dawn when Bidel, after having had iis wounds dressed, cam© forward and bowed to the public.