A LION TAMER’S PERIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1344, 17 September 1886, Page 2

A LION TAMER’S PERIL.

The eccentric Englishmen who, according to French tradition, habitually attend the performances of lion tamers in hopes of seeing the lions devour their master, came very near having their wish gratified a couple of nights ago at the Faire de Nenilly. Bidel the fomons lion tamer, had, as usual, pitched his tent at the corner of the great Paris Fair, where his blood curdling performances had been drawing crowds nightly. He had entered the cage to face the four fierce lions with whom he performs. The people noticed that Bidel did not seem himself. Be had an anxions look and seemed nnwell. No wonder, for he was suffering from a sudden attack of rheumatism and walked with difficulty. All went well, however, up to a certain point He had put the four animals though their paces. Throe had returned to the adjoining cage and Bidel was a'ono with one ferocious old African lion—his show beast — named Multan, which began its career In France by biting a rustic’* «rm off acme

■ li-rs ago Th-j be »t has 'e-' hard to manag-, Bidet about to make SuUao s and on his hied !egs. when the tamer stumbled, from rheumatic naln, falling prone. In so Instant h lion pounced open him, fastening its teem in his neck and arms All seemed over, and a simultaneous cry of horror arouse from the aud’ence. Several women fainted, and every one bat Bidel and an assistant, who was providentially near, lust their heads. By a tremendous c ®' , rt of muscle and will the lion tamer c-uchel the lion by,the jaw and strove to hurl the mlj.h y bra t away from him. At the same time the assistant, catching up a long iron-tipped pole, made a determined lunge at Saltan, who, howling out with pain, relaxed hia bold, and retired next door to reflect on the situation. Before the beast could spring at M" again, Bidel, streaming with blood, dragged himself to the outer door of the cage. Meanwhile all the animals in the menagerie had raised their peculiar erica, making the place hideous. A doctor present at once attended to the wounds, seventeen in number, but none immediately dangerous. Bidel at once offered to reenter the cage to complete his performance, but the public stopped him with shouts of ‘ Assez 1 Aaaez I* (* Enough ! if cough ! and he retired for a week or ten days to obtain rest and nursing—Pari* cablegram, July 3.