Treachery of Wild Animals.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8, 24 August 1907, Page 30

Treachery of Wild Animals.

(By

FRANK BOSTOCK.)

The western plainsmen used to say, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” In the same sense it may be said that the only good wild animals are the dead ones. The live ones are theacherous, unforgiving, and the instinct to kill is part of their very being. We read much of the love that lions, tigers, panthers, bears, elephants, and other wild animals have for their trainers, but you may take the word of one who was born and bred with wild beasts, who has devoted every day of bis life to them, and whose family traditions have been allied with them for over a hundred years, that these stories are the romances of writers or trainers whose sentimental imaginations insist upon the concoction of such tales. Believe me, they are bogus. A wild animal usually has for his trainer the same affection that, a lifesenteneed prisoner entertains towards his jailer. He likes his food and drink to be brought him, and he welcomes the man who brings it. He likes to be supplied with a clean bed, and watches for the man who supplies it. Probably he greets the man with friendly speech. But. given an unarmed jailer, a,key carelessly left in the door, and it is easy to complete the story. There is an empty cell next morning, and a jailer staring into the sun with eyes that won’t wink. The trainer who encourages the fallacy that he is loved by his giant jungle eats, his bears, or his elephants, with the possible exception of some elephants which have been more or less domesticated, is merely conniving at his own murder. Savage animals are sometimes playful, sometimes good natured, ami occasionally comical, but they have very seldom genuine affection for the hand that holds the whip and slams the ironbarred gate in their faces. Audiences that witness animal shows have little appreciation of the dangers of training, because the performance they see is more or less a cut and dried affair, like occasions at school where the pupils have been drilled to show off and are .repeating the / lessons they have learned by rote. These exhibitions, however. represent months, and frequently years, of patient, sweating labour, during which a man risks his- life almost every time he goes into the ring. 1 do not mean to say that the element of danger is entirely eliminated from public performances. In the light of several accidents that have occurred' in view of audiences, such a statement would be incorrect: but the dangers of public performances are as nothing to those encountered by a trainer during tile weary, painstaking days of preparation, before be can “show” his animals. ‘ ‘ • ■- ■<’) •. .. <1 t THICK HEADED KINGS OF THE ' FOREST. Of all wild animals, tigerg and lions make the best performers from a spectacular point of view, not- on account of what they do, for they are thickheaded brutes and hard to teach the simplest tricks, but because of their great personality, or, perhaps, animality, and also because ' of the : danger. .That is what stirs the pullie—danger! The American's love for exciting exhibitions was forced home upon me some years ago in a way I shall never forget. In addition to my foreign establishments, 1 was at that time conducting two animal shows in this country, one at Baltimore. another at Indianapolis. .Aly gillie, tion in the latter town contained a most ferocious Bengal tiger, -called Rajah, who was living the eaged life’of a “retired” Criminal. His. .record Was public property, and for this, very reason lie proved a splendid drawing card. With the Indianapolis show there was an attendant named Neilson, who hart a fanatical ambition to become a trainer. Continually we were forced to order hint away from various animal cages. He was a bright fellow, but fool-tawdy and imbue 1 with the siHy notion that he wA-s loved by the animals ne tende-.F and'occasionally fed. Among these beasts were two baby lions and the savage Rajah. I was spending the greater pact of my time with the Baltimore show, only occasionally visiting Indianapolis to overlook my interest’ in that city. ' During these visits I was always compelled to listen to a long plea from Neilson. Finally I agreed to let him take entire

charge of the two lions, which were just past cubhood, and gave him pernrission to spend an hour daily in their cage, with an ultimate view to training and presenting them later in the arena. One morning some little time after he had received this permission, two agonized cries came from the direction of the cage where Neilson was supposed to be. Instinctively every man in the building knew that something had happened to Neilson and rushed to his aid. They were horrified to find that instead of his cubs’ cage he had entered the one occupied by Rajah. The gigantic jungle cat had the man’s head full in his mouth, and apparently was crushing it into a pulp. His two fore-paws were buried in Nielson’s sides, under the arms, and the men who saw him knew the poor fellow was in a vice from which he would never be taken alive. With the devoted bravery that marks every thainer in a crisis, they rushed for bars, prongs, and guns. While the crowd outside attacked the tiger, one attendant entered the cage, grabbed Neilson’s feet, and together they finally succeeded in getting him out. Of course, the poor chap was dead. He had been killed instantly when the tiger's jaws closed on his skull. 1 was informed by ’phone of the tragedy, and immediately ordered that Rajah’s cage should be strengthened and doubly barricaded until my arrival in Indianapolis, a few days later. I did not arrive on time, however, as my Baltimore establishment was destroyed by fire, and my entire collection of valuable animals burned to death. That is another story. 1 reached Indianapolis after a delay of two weeks, to discover that I had become the victim of an over-zealous press agent. ALE DID HIM HOMAGE. As I stepped from the train I was surprised at the extremely deferential air of the Negro porter who took my bag. When he refused to accept a tip for his service, 1 was more surprised and said, ‘‘What’s this, my man?” ‘‘Well, sah,” he said, doffing his hat and holding it in his hand as he spoke, “I eain’t take no money from you. Ah’m honoured to hoi’ your grip, sah, cause Ah knows Ah’m the last pohter that’ll ever have the chance. Ah knows you ain’t seeered o' nothin’,but Ah’m powerful ’fraid you’ll never come out o’ that than Rajah's eage alive. Ah’ll be thar to see it, an’ Ah’ll pray for you, sah, hard ez Ah kin.” I looked at the man in surprise, but

said nothing, and left him standing there with his hat still reverently held in his hand. ■ \ • When I reached the sidewalk a cabman stepped up, lifted his hat, and said with an air of reverence similar to the Negro’s. “May I drive you up?” “No, thank you,” I answered. “Are you going in to-night?” he asked, “Going in where?” “With Rajah.” “What do you mean?” “The newspapers have been full of it ever since he killed Neilson. They said you were coming on to defy the mankiller in his cage.” “I haven’t yet decided,” I answered guardedly, “When 1 shall go in.” “Well, I want to be there to see it.” “To see me being killed?” I asked a bit testily. ■ “No, not exactly that. But, of course, if you are going to be killed, I don’t want to miss it. ” And this I found to be the temper of the town. If I was to be killed everybody wanted to see it done. Naturally, the question proposes itself to the reader, Why did I not set these rumours at rest by immediately denying theiri? If the reader is a showman he will understand; if not, it may be well to explain that the American press agent is a tough proposition, who frequently, in a praiseworthy attempt to secure newspaper space and create public interest, makes all sorts of impossible promises in the name of his employer, without the formality of consulting the latter. Column upon column had been devoted by the Indianapolis newspapers to the tragic death of Neilson, and 1 felt sure that my press agent nad taken advantage of public interest in the man-killing tiger to send out a statement that I would enter the arena with him. My surmise was less than the truth, for I learned within the hour that my sensational promoter of publicity had not only made this promise, but had gone so far as to forge a letter from me, which had beeu printed broadcast, and stated that I was on my way to Indianapolis for the express purpose of conquering the terrible Rajah. When I confronted him with his folly, he exclaimed, “Great Scott, Governor! you don't mean to say you are going to fall down'on me?” The man’s effrontery deprived me of the power to answer. “What will these editors do to me,” he continued, “when I go into their offices ?”

“What will that tiger do to me when I go into his cage?”-1 asked. ‘ “Well, don’t deny it for a while,” he pleaded, “until they have time to cool off.” On the following morning the local newspapers screamed out the intelligence that Bostoek alone would brave Rajah in his eage. - Frankly, I confess that my eggs and rolls had little taste as 1 read the news. - . It may seem a bit strange that one who has expressed more or less contempt for the pugnacity of wild animals as compared with that of man should grow exercised over confronting a mere tiger; but there is a boundless difference between working an animal one has trained and presenting a beast that has killed a man within a few days. WHY HE FEARED THE TIGER. To begin, Rajah undoubtedly was one of the most ferocious animals in captivity; secondly, he had it in for me, because of a terrible dru-obing I had given him a year before; and thirdly, he had killed his man. The last was the greatest cause for fear. He knew as well as, 1 that he was my muscular superior. • With every possible precaution, it was twenty chances to one that I would be terribly lacerated or killed if I entered Rajah’s cage. 1 had a wife and family of children. So, my rolls and eggs had little taste. when 1 read my public promise in the newspapers. There was no way to crawl out of it. I had to make good. If 1 attempted to evade the meeting, counterfeit would be stamped upon my courage, and that would mean financial ruin. During the week following my promise we had arranged a benefit performance for the Elks. This was the fitting occasion for me to meet Rajah, everyone said. I made a sort of tentative promise, and then was saved by the timely arrival of a consignment of wild animals from Europe. Among them was a wild lion that had never been out of its travelling cage since the capture in its native jungle. I suggested a meeting with this lion in the arena alone. My bloodthirstyfriends accepted the proposition in a half-hearted way. They ■ feared the lion might not l be sufficiently dangerous.: ■ On the night of the'benefit I entered the arena within a eage of wire netting I had devised for trie occasion, called the’“chickeri coop!”" It was’about ' six feet high and five feet in diameter and was set on casters. There''were two

floors opposite each other, and the whole affair was open at'tlie top.

• When the lion was turned into the arena he immediately rushed at the coop With the evident intention of crushing it. I did not expect this, but set myself against the side, and barely had time to whack him on the point of the nose with the butt' of a revolver I held in my hand.

■ When Jyou strike a member of the cat family on the nose, it sees stars and doesn’t care' for it. Each wild animal has at least one vulnerable point of attack. With felines it is the nose, with elephants the trunk, with bears the feet, and so on. When the gun caught this fellow squarely on the soft spot, he backed up as suddenly as he had started and rushed madly about the arena, each time decreasing the circumference of his run until he gradually came within striking distance of the coop. I stepped out one door and he dashed around the cage after me, whereupon I quickly re-entered. He barely missed one of my feet. The bloodthirsty audience seemed to approve of that; so I did it again quite a few ■Limes. Gradually, however, the brute realised that he could not catch me by dashing round the cage, so he stepped away a bit to hold with himself a council of war.

As he crouched on his hindquarters and measured carefully the height of the cage, I realized the strategy upon which he had decided. He could not get at me through the sues. He was coming in through the open top. I began to move the coop about so he could hot set himself for the spring, but he worked me inch by inch into a corner of the arena, whence I could not move with any speed. Immediately he realized this, and swish! he shot through the air and landed true in the middle of the coop. Just as quickly I stepped outside the coop and slammed the door, leaving him imprisoned. The audience set up an enormous din of applause at the unexpected climax, and, realizing it was the psychological moment to make my exit, I backed from the arena, leaving the infuriated lion tearing the chicken coop to pieces. ] ■ i • It made a splendid; show. and satisfied the gore-hungry; but it did not release me from the- promise iane,nt Rajah—not a bit of it, The next day a delegation of newspaper men called upon me and practically demanded that I should beard Rajah in his cage during the next week. There was no way out of it. 1 agreed. During the intervening time, I made my Will, arranged my affairs in case of death, and, with the assistance of a harnessmaker, contrived an immense mask after the style of -those' worn by base-ball Catchers; with the exception that it covered my whole bead and neck. As Rajah had attacked poor Neilson at the head, I knew he would go after me in the same way. Immediately the affair was announced in the.newspapers thb entire seating and standing capacity of the building was sold out. 1 was sure to have a big funeral. On the night before the date set for mv appearance with Rajah, I called all my trainers together and ordered them to be at the building on the morning foilowing at 8 o’clock. 1 wanted to have a rehearsal, where the brute would not be excited by a big crowd. CONQI’ERING THE MAN KILLER. ■Rajah was driven into the arena, six trqihers were stationed about the cage On -the outside, and .with a gun, fork, and whip in my hands, and the mask on my head, I followed him in. The beast stood in the middle of the ring without- a' sound and set me with his ey'eii Without bravado, I may be pardoned in .Haying that I was not at all frightened' 'Sly sensation as I returned the look of’the beast was one of extreme eaiefuhiesh. - .. . ' - I approached him, and he snarled. 1 jarpmed the fork into his nose, and he backed up. When an animal.retreats the danger is partly over. I advanced on him witlip.pt hesitation. He backed rrpjmd the ring twice—unwilling, it is rue. with many snarls and growls, but J lipd him. The exit was opened, and 1 drove him into the runway behind the bther cages leading to his own. This runway was a small passage three feef wide and six feet in height. It was lighted by incandescent globes hanging from the* ceiling. The door leading to Rajah’s cage was just largo‘enough, when opened, to block the passage so he wotiK be forced to enter hfe oage on reaching the obstruction. This door was apen,

and behind it a man was stationed with orders to slam and lock it as soon as the tiger entered his cage. To ensure my own safety, 1 had built a portable door, which just fitted the passageway, so that I might use it as a shield in the narrow coniines of the hall as I followed him to the cage. This precaution proved my own undoing,' for in pushing it in front of mo through the passageway it struck and shattered the incandescent globes which hung in my path, leaving the narrow hall in darkness.

The man behind the door leading to Rajah’s cage was an excitable Frenchman. It was his duty to watch through two eye holes in the door and see that Rajah entered the cage, but as the lights were extinguished he was forced to judge by the animal’s footfalls when he had entered. Whether it was due to his excitement or not 1 shall never know, but this man shut the door and Hed down the passageway before Rajah had entered. On hearing the cage door slam 1 laid down my clumsy shield and turned to walk back to the arena.

I had advanced a few steps, when I heard the soft fotfalls of the brute in the passageway behind me. I turned to defend myself, but before 1 could get my long fork in position he was upon me. The immense beast landed on my shoulder and bore me to the ground. With the instinct of self-defence 1 dug the nails of both hands in his nose, which was on my left shoulder, as he had got me with his teeth in the left biceps. The force of my fall had disarranged the mask so he succeeded in getting one of his claws in my scalp. I felt the steellike nail jagging through my head, and then lost consciousness.

On recovering, I w'as in bed, with a doctor bending over me. My trainers on guard had heard the commotion in the passageway and their swift attack on the tiger saved my life. My first thought was, “Are my bloodthirsty friends satisfied?” They were not. A man in Indianapolis whom I had once employed as a press-agent and discharged, for incompetency went about saying the whole thing was a fake; the papers which had printed extras about my adventure began to get “cold feet,” and I finally had to exhibit my wounds to a delegation of reporters. At last they were satisfied. The man who had spread the false reports was discredited, and my bloodthirsty public agreed that Rajah should be forever banished from the arena.