PLAYING WITH DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 8 June 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

PLAYING WITH DEATH

CLAIRE lIELIOT AXD HER LUIS',S. A snarling lion that stands and defies its trainer talis forth thrills of suspense and nervousness from the audience; a tiger that reaches forth its paw and tries to claw at its trainer is stared at with awe and dismay; and yet, more often than not, this is mere child's play compared with 'some of the things that take place in the very parts of the performance that the public thinks are harmless Keepers and trainers of wild animals take their lives in their hands many times a day; and in every performance the supreme moments of danger pass unnoticed by the general public. A terribly dangerous moment in a lion performance is when the animal is made to walk the tight rope. The lion, bein« above the trainer, has an excellent op° portunity of springing down upon her: and if he should do this her chances would be practically nil. Anyone who has seen 'Miss Claire Heliot perform with her twelve lions will remember that, after making them do various tricks together, she sends all but two back to their pedestals; the two she singles out do special turns by themselves. This looks very easy, but there is always uie great danger in this performance. One of her most treaciierous lions is behind her. Until this was called to the writer's attention he had not noticed anything unusual, except that occasionally one of the lions at the back would get down from its pedestal.

I'l'om this on lie watched, carefully, and at every performance he saw that this particular lion crept with apparent indifference oil the pedestal, and was ordered sharply to return to it by his trainer. While the animals remain on their pedestal she is safe, but a lion prowling about has nothing to think of but mischief. Many a time Miss Heliot turned round just in time, and there is always the fear that she will not turn quickly enough. Another dangerous moment is when Miss Heliot, after making the four biggest lions lie down in a row, herself lies down on top of tliem. This is the most crucial moment in the whole performance, for while, she is prostrate a,thousand things might happen. Should one of the lions get up suddenly she would be at a terrible disadvantage, for one of first necessities of a trainer is to keen on her feet. No wild animal lias the slightest respect for man or woman onee down. —Royal Magazine.