On Tuesday, the 26th of July, 1825 there was a “fight,” if so it might
be called, between a lion and dogs, which ls thus reported in the public
journals.--
This extremely gratuitous, as well as disgusting, exhibition of
brutality, took place, at a late hour on Tuesday evening, at Warwick;
and, except that it was even still more offensive and cruel than was
anticipated, the result was purely that which had been predicted in _The
Times_ newspaper.
The show was got up in an extensive enclosure, called the “Old
Factory-yard,” just in the suburbs of Warwick, on the road towards
Northampton; and the cage in which the fight took place stood in the
centre of a hollow square, formed on two sides by ranges of empty
workshops, the windows of which were fitted up with planks on barrels as
seats for the spectators; and, in the remaining two, by the whole of Mr.
Wombwell’s wild “collection,” as they have been on show for some days
past, arranged in their respective dens and travelling carriages.
In the course of the morning, the dogs were shown, for the fee of a
shilling, at a public-house in Warwick, called the “Green Dragon.” Eight
had been brought over originally; but, by a mistake of locking them up
together on the preceding night, they had fallen out among themselves,
and one had been killed entirely; a second escaping only with the loss
of an ear, and a portion of one cheek. The guardian of the beasts being
rebuked for this accident, declared he could not have supposed they
would have fought each other--being “all on the same side:” six,
however, still remained in condition, as _Mrs. Heidelberg_ expresses it,
for the “runcounter.”
The price of admission demanded in the first instance for the fight
seemed to have been founded on very gross miscalculation. Three guineas
were asked for seats at the windows in the first, second, and third
floors of the unoccupied manufactory; two guineas for seats on the
fourth floor of this building; one guinea for places at a still more
distant point; and half-a-guinea for standing room in the square. The
appearance of the cage when erected was rather fragile, considering the
furious struggle which was to take place within it. It measured fifteen
feet square, and ten feet high, the floor of it standing about six feet
from the ground. The top, as well as the sides, was composed merely of
iron bars, apparently slight, and placed at such a distance from each
other that the dogs might enter or escape between, but too close for the
lion to follow. Some doubts were expressed about the sufficiency of
this last precaution--merely because a number of “ladies,” it was
understood, would be present; but the ladies in general escaped that
disgrace, for not a single female came; and, at all events, the
attendant bear-wards swore in the most solemn way--that is to say, using
a hundred imprecations instead of one--that the security of the whole
was past a doubt. Towards afternoon the determination as to “prices”
seemed a little to abate; and it was suspected that, in the end, the
speculator would take whatever prices he could get. The fact became
pretty clear, too, that no real match, nor any thing approaching to one,
was pending; because the parties themselves, in their printed notices,
did not settle any circumstances satisfactorily, under which the contest
could be considered as concluded. Wheeler, Mr. Martin’s agent, who had
come down on Monday, applied to the local authorities to stop the
exhibition; but the mayor, and afterwards, as we understood, a
magistrate of the name of Wade, declined interfering, on the ground
that, under Mr. Martin’s present act, no steps could be taken before the
act constituting “cruelty” had been committed. A gentleman, a quaker,
who resides near Warwick, also went down to the menagerie, in person, to
remonstrate with Mr. Wombwell; but, against the hope of letting seats at
“three guineas” a-head, of course his mediation could have very little
chance of success.
In the mean time, the unfortunate lion lay in a caravan by himself all
day, in front of the cage in which he was to be baited, surveying the
preparations for his own annoyance with great simplicity and apparent
good humour; and not at all discomfited by the notice of the numerous
persons who came to look at him. In the course of the day, the dogs who
were to fight were brought into the menagerie in slips, it being not the
least singular feature of this combat that it was to take place
immediately under the eyes of an immense host of wild beasts of all
descriptions (not including the human spectators); three other lions; a
she wolf, with cubs; a hyæna; a white bear; a lioness; two female
leopards, with cubs; two zebras, male and female; a large assortment of
monkeys; and two wild asses; with a variety of other interesting
foreigners, being arranged within a few yards of the grand stand.
These animals, generally, looked clean and in good condition; and were
(as is the custom with such creatures when confined) perpetually in
motion; but the dogs disappointed expectation--they were very little
excited by the introduction. They were strong, however, and lively;
crossed, apparently the majority of them, between the bull and the
mastiff breed; one or two showed a touch of the lurcher, a point in the
descent of fighting dogs which is held to give an increased capacity of
mouth. The average weight of those which fought was from about five and
thirty to five and forty pounds each; one had been brought over that
weighed more than sixty, but he was on some account or other excluded
from the contest.
The cub leopards were “fine darling little creatures,” as an old lady
observed in the morning, fully marked and coloured, and about the size
of a two months’ old kitten. The young wolves had a haggard, cur-like
look; but were so completely like sheep-dog puppies, that a mother of
that race might have suckled them for her own. A story was told of the
lion “Nero” having already had a trial in the way of “give and take,”
with a bull bitch, who had attacked him, but, at the first onset, been
bitten through the throat. The bitch was said to have been got off by
throwing meat to the lion; and if the account were true, the result was
only such as with a single dog, against such odds, might reasonably have
been expected. Up to a late hour of the day, the arrival of strangers
was far less considerable than had been anticipated; and doubts were
entertained, whether, in the end, the owner of the lion would not
declare off.
At a quarter past seven, however, in the evening, from about four to
five hundred persons of different descriptions being assembled,
preparations were made for commencing
_The Combat._
The dens which contained the animals on show were covered in with
shutters; the lion’s travelling caravan was drawn close to the fighting
cage, so that a door could be opened from one into the other; and the
keeper, Wombwell, then going into the travelling caravan, in which
another man had already been staying with the lion for some time, the
animal followed him into the cage as tamely as a Newfoundland dog. The
whole demeanour of the beast, indeed, was so quiet and generous, that,
at his first appearance, it became very much doubted whether he would
attempt to fight at all. While the multitude shouted, and the dogs were
yelling in the ground below, he walked up and down his cage, Wombwell
still remaining in it, with the most perfect composure, not at all
angered, or even excited; but looking with apparently great curiosity at
his new dwelling and the objects generally about him; and there can
hardly be a question, that, during the whole contest, such as it turned
out, any one of the keepers might have remained close to him with entire
safety.
Wombwell, however, having quitted the cage, the first relay of dogs was
laid on. These were a fallow-coloured dog, a brown with white legs, and
a third brown altogether--averaging about forty pounds in weight
a-piece, and described in the printed papers which were distributed, by
the names of Captain, Tiger, and Turk. As the dogs were held for a
minute in slips, upon the inclined plane which ran from the ground to
the stage, the lion crouched on his belly to receive them; but with so
perfect an absence of any thing like ferocity, that many persons were of
opinion he was rather disposed to play: at all events, the next moment
showed clearly that the idea of fighting, or doing mischief to any
living creature, never had occurred to him.
At the first rush of the dogs--which the lion evidently had not
expected, and did not at all know how to meet--they all fixed themselves
upon him, but caught only by the dewlap and the mane. With a single
effort, he shook them off, without attempting to return the attack. He
then flew from side to side of the cage, endeavouring to get away; but
in the next moment the assailants were upon him again, and the brown
dog, Turk, seized him by the nose, while the two others fastened at the
same time on the fleshy part of his lips and under-jaw. The lion then
roared dreadfully, but evidently only from the pain he suffered--not at
all from anger. As the dogs hung to his throat and head, he pawed them
off by sheer strength; and in doing this, and in rolling upon them, did
them considerable mischief; but it amounts to a most curious fact, that
he never once bit, or attempted to bite, during the whole contest, or
seemed to have any desire to retaliate any of the punishment which was
inflicted upon him. When he was first “pinned,” for instance, (to use
the phraseology of the bear-garden,) the dogs hung to him for more than
a minute, and were drawn, holding to his nose and lips, several times
round the ring. After a short time, roaring tremendously, he tore them
off with his claws, mauling two a good deal in the operation, but still
not attempting afterwards to act on the offensive. After about five
minutes’ fighting, the fallow-coloured dog was taken away, lame, and
apparently much distressed, and the remaining two continued the combat
alone, the lion still working only with his paws, as though seeking to
rid himself of a torture, the nature of which he did not well
understand. In two or three minutes more, the second dog, Tiger, being
dreadfully maimed, crawled out of the cage; and the brown dog, Turk,
which was the lightest of the three, but of admirable courage, went on
fighting by himself. A most extraordinary scene then ensued: the dog,
left entirely alone with an animal of twenty times its weight, continued
the battle with unabated fury, and, though bleeding all over from the
effect of the lion’s claws, seized and pinned him by the nose at least
half a dozen times; when at length, releasing himself with a desperate
effort, the lion flung his whole weight upon the dog, and held him lying
between his fore paws for more than a minute, during which time he could
have bitten his head off a hundred times over, but did not make the
slightest effort to hurt him. Poor Turk was then taken away by the
dog-keepers, grievously mangled but still alive, and seized the lion,
for at least the twentieth time, the very same moment that he was
released from under him.
It would be tiresome to go at length into the detail of the “second
fight,” as it was called, which followed this; the undertaking being to
the assembly--for the notion of “match” now began to be too obvious a
humbug to be talked about--that there should be two onsets, at twenty
minutes’ interval, by three dogs at each time. When the last dog of the
first set, _Turk_, was removed, poor _Nero’s_ temper was just as good as
before the affair began. The keeper, Wombwell, went into the cage
instantly, and alone, carrying a pan of water, with which he first
sluiced the animal, and then offered him some to drink. After a few
minutes the lion laid down, rubbing the parts of his head which had been
torn (as a cat would do) with his paw; and presently a pan of fresh
water being brought, he lapped out of it for some moments, while a
second keeper patted and caressed him through the iron grate. The second
combat presented only a repetition of the barbarities committed in the
first, except that it completely settled the doubt--if any existed--as
to a sum of money being depending. In throwing water upon the lion, a
good deal had been thrown upon the stage. This made the floor of course
extremely slippery; and so far it was a very absurd blunder to commit.
But the second set of dogs let in being heavier than the first, and the
lion more exhausted, he was unable to keep his footing on the wet
boards, and fell in endeavouring to shake them off, bleeding freely from
the nose and head, and evidently in a fair way to be seriously injured.
The dogs, all three, seized him on going in, and he endeavoured to get
rid of them in the same way as before, using his paws, and not thinking
of fighting, but not with the same success. He fell now, and showed
symptoms of weakness, upon which the dogs were taken away. This
termination, however, did not please the crowd, who cried out loudly
that the dogs were not beaten. Some confusion then followed; after which
the dogs were again put in, and again seized the lion, who by this time,
as well as bleeding freely from the head, appeared to have got a hurt in
one of his fore feet. At length the danger of mischief becoming
pressing, and the two divisions of the second combat having lasted about
five minutes, Mr. Wombwell announced that he gave up on the part of the
lion; and the exhibition was declared to be at an end.
* * * * *
The first struggle between the lion and his assailants lasted about
eleven minutes, and the last something less than five; but the affair
altogether wanted even the savage interest which generally belongs to a
common bull or bear bait. For, from the beginning of the matter to the
end, the lion was merely a sufferer--he never struck a blow. The only
picturesque point which could present itself in such a contest would
have been, the seeing an animal like the lion in a high state of fury
and excitation; but before the battle began, we felt assured that no
such event would take place; because the animal in question, had not
merely been bred up in such a manner as would go far to extinguish all
natural disposition to ferocity, but the greatest pains had been taken
to render him tame, and gentle, and submissive. Wombwell, the keeper,
walked about in the cage with the lion at least as much at his ease as
he could have done with any one of the dogs who were to be matched
against him. At the end of the first combat, the very moment the dogs
were removed, he goes into the cage and gives him water. At the end of
the last battle, while he is wounded and bleeding, he goes to him again
without the least hesitation. Wombwell must have known, to certainty,
that the animal’s temper was not capable of being roused into ferocity.
It might admit, perhaps, of some question, whether the supposed
untameable nature of many wild animals is not something overrated: and
whether it would not be the irresistible strength of a domestic lion (in
case he should become excited,) that could render him a dangerous
inmate, rather than any probability that he would easily become furious;
but, as regards the particular animal in question, and the battle which
he had to fight, he evidently had no understanding of it, no notion that
the dog was his enemy. A very large dog, the property of a gentleman in
Warwick, was led up to his caravan on the day before the fight; this
dog’s appearance did not produce the slightest impression upon him. So,
with the other wild beasts of Wombwell’s collection, who were shown to
the fighting dogs, as we observed above, on the morning of Tuesday, not
one of them appeared to be roused by the meeting in the smallest degree.
A common house cat would have been upon the _qui vive_, and _aux mains_
too probably, in a moment. All the contest that did take place arose out
of the fact, that the dogs were of a breed too small and light to
destroy an animal of the lion’s weight and strength, even if he did not
defend himself. It was quite clear, from the moment when the combat
began, that he had no more thought or knowledge of fighting, than a
sheep would have had under the same circumstances. His absolute refusal
to _bite_ is a curious fact; he had evidently no idea of using his mouth
or teeth as a means for his defence. The dogs, most of them, showed
considerable game; the brown dog Turk, perhaps as much as ever was
exhibited, and none of them seemed to feel any of that instinctive
dread or horror which some writers have attributed to dogs in the
presence of a lion.
[Illustration: ~Tame Lion Bait.~
“The dogs would not give him a moment’s respite, and all three set on
him again, while the poor animal howling with pain, threw his great paws
awkwardly upon them as they came.”
_Morning Herald._]
It would be a joke to say any thing about the feelings of any man, who,
for the sake of pecuniary advantage, could make up his mind to expose a
noble animal which he had bred, and which had become attached to him, to
a horrible and lingering death. About as little reliance we should be
disposed to place upon any appeal to the humanity of those persons who
make animal suffering--in the shape of dog-fighting, bear-baiting, &c.,
a sort of daily sport--an indemnification, perhaps, for the not being
permitted to torture their fellow-creatures. But as, probably, a number
of persons were present at this detestable exhibition, which we have
been describing, who were attracted merely by its novelty, and would be
as much disgusted as we ourselves were with its details, we recommend
their attention to the following letter, which a gentleman, a member of
the Society of Friends, who applied personally to Mr. Wombwell to omit
the performance, delivered to him as expressive of his own opinions upon
the question, and those of his friends. Of course, addressed to such a
quarter, it produced no effect; but it does infinite credit both to the
head and heart of the writer, and contains almost every thing that, to
honourable and feeling men, need be said upon such a subject:--
“Friend,--I have heard with a great degree of horror, of an intended
fight between a lion that has long been exhibited by thee, consequently
has long been under thy protection, and six bull-dogs. I seem impelled
to write to thee on the subject, and to entreat thee, I believe in
christian love, that, whatever may be thy hope of gain by this very
cruel and very disgraceful exhibition, thou wilt not proceed. Recollect
that they are God’s creatures, and we are informed by the holy
scriptures, that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his
notice; and as this very shocking scene must be to gratify a spirit of
cruelty, as well as a spirit of gambling,--for it is asserted that large
sums of money are wagered on the event of the contest,--it must be
marked with divine displeasure. Depend upon it that the Almighty will
avenge the sufferings of his tormented creatures on their tormentors;
for, though he is a God of love, he is also a God of justice; and I
believe that no deed of cruelty has ever passed unpunished. Allow me to
ask thee how thou wilt endure to see the noble animal thou hast so long
protected, and which has been in part the means of supplying thee with
the means of life, mangled and bleeding before thee? It is unmanly, it
is mean and cowardly, to torment any thing that cannot defend
itself,--that cannot speak to tell its pains and sufferings,--that
cannot ask for mercy. Oh, spare thy poor lion the pangs of such a death
as may perhaps be his,--save him from being torn to pieces--have pity on
the dogs that may be torn by him. Spare the horrid spectacle--spare
thyself the sufferings that I fear will yet reach thee if thou
persist--show a noble example of humanity. Whoever have persuaded thee
to expose thy lion to the chance of being torn to pieces, or of tearing
other animals, are far beneath the brutes they torment, are unworthy the
name of men, or rational creatures. Whatever thou mayest gain by this
disgraceful exhibition will, I fear, prove like a canker-worm among the
rest of thy substance. The writer of this most earnestly entreats thee
to refrain from the intended evil, and to protect the animals in thy
possession from all unnecessary suffering. The practice of benevolence
will afford thee more true comfort than the possession of thousands.
Remember, that He who gave life did not give it to be the sport of cruel
man; and that He will assuredly call man to account for his conduct
towards his dumb creatures. Remember, also, that cowards are always
cruel, but the brave love mercy, and delight to save. With sincere
desire for the preservation of thy honour, as a man of humanity, and for
thy happiness and welfare, I am, thy friend,
“S. HOARE.”
Mr. Hoare’s excellent letter, with the particulars of this brutal
transaction, thus far, are from _The Times_ newspaper which observes in
its leading article thus:
“With great sincerity we offered a few days ago our earnest remonstrance
against the barbarous spectacle then preparing, and since, in spite of
every better feeling, indulged--we mean the torture of a noble lion,
with the full consent, and for the profit, of a mercenary being, who had
gained large sums of money by hawking the poor animal about the world
and exhibiting him. It is vain, however, to make any appeal to humanity
where none exists, or to expatiate on mercy, justice, and retribution
hereafter, when those whom we strive to influence have never learned
that language in which alone we can address them.
“Little more can be said upon this painful and degrading subject, beyond
a relation of the occurrence itself, which it was more our wish than our
hope to have prevented. Nothing, at least, could be so well said by any
other person, as it has by a humane and eloquent member of the Society
of Friends, in his excellent though unavailing letter to Wombwell. What
must have been the texture of that mind, on which such sentiments could
make no impression?”
This question may be illustrated by Wombwell’s subsequent conduct.
* * * * *
To the preceding account, extracted from _The Times_, additional
circumstances are subjoined, in order to preserve a full record of this
disgraceful act.
The _Morning Herald_ says--For several months the country has been
amused with notices that a fight between a lion and dogs was intended,
and time and place were more than once appointed. This had the desired
effect--making the lion an object of great attraction in the provincial
towns, and a golden harvest was secured by showing him at two shillings
a head. The next move was to get up such a fight as would draw all the
world from London, as well as from the villages, to fill places marked
at one and two guineas each to see it; and lastly, to find dogs of such
weight and inferior quality as to stand no chance before an enraged
lion--thus securing the lion from injury, and making him still a greater
lion than before, or that the world ever saw to be exhibited as the
wonderful animal that beat six British bred mastiffs. The repeated
disappointments as to time and place led people to conclude that the
affair was altogether a hoax, and the magnitude of the stake of
5,000_l._ said to be at issue, was so far out of any reasonable
calculation, that the whole was looked upon as a fabrication, and the
majority became incredulous on the subject. Nay, the very persons who
saw the lion and the dogs, and the stage, disbelieved even to the last
moment that the fight was in reality intended. But the proprietor of the
concern was too good a judge to let the flats altogether escape him,
though his draught was diminished from having troubled the waters too
much. Wombwell, the proprietor, as the leader of a collection of wild
beasts, may be excused for his proficiency in trickery, which is the
essence and spirit of his calling, but we think him accountable, as a
man, for his excessive cruelty in exposing a poor animal that he has
reared himself, and made so attached that it plays with him, and fondles
him like a spaniel--that has never been taught to know its own powers,
or the force of its savage nature, to the attacks of dogs trained to
blood, and bred for fighting. The lion now five years old, was whelped
in Edinburgh, and has been brought up with so much softness, that it
appears as inoffensive as a kitten, and suffers the attendants of the
menagerie to ride upon its back or to sleep in its cage. Its nature
seems to be gentleness itself, and its education has rendered it
perfectly domestic, and deprived it of all savage instinct. In the only
experiment made upon its disposition, he turned from a dog which had
been run at him, and on which he had fastened, to a piece of meat which
was thrown into the cage. Nero is said to be one of the largest lions
ever exhibited, and certainly a finer or more noble looking animal
cannot be imagined.
Wombwell announced in his posting-bills at Birmingham, Coventry,
Manchester, and all the neighbouring towns, that the battle was to be
for 5,000_l._, but communicated, by way of secret, that, in reality, it
was but 300_l._ aside, which he asserted was made good with the owner of
the dogs on Monday night, at the Bear, in Warwick; but who the owner of
the dogs was, or the maker of the match, it was impossible to ascertain;
and though well aware of the impropriety of doubting the authority of
the keeper of the menagerie, we must admit that our impression is, that
no match was made, that no wagers were laid, and that the affair was got
up for the laudable purpose hinted at in the commencement of this
notice. The dogs to be sure, were open to the inspection of the curious
on Monday, and a rough-coated, game-keeping, butcher-like, honest,
ruffianly person from the north, announced himself as their ostensible
friend on the occasion; but by whom employed he was unwilling to
declare. His orders were to bring the dogs to “the scratch,” and very
busy we saw him preparing them for slaughter, and anointing the wounds
of one little bitter animal that got its head laid open in the course of
the night, while laudably engaged in mangling the throat and forcing
out the windpipe of one of its companions, near whom it had been
unfortunately chained. The other dogs were good-looking savage vermin,
averaging about 40lbs. weight; one of them being less than 30lbs., and
the largest not over 60lbs. Four were described as real bull dogs, and
the other bull and mastiff crossed. The keeper said they were quite
equal to the work; but, to one not given to the fancy dog line, they
appeared quite unequal to attack and master a lion, many times as large
as all the curs put together. Wedgbury, a person well known in London
for his breed of dogs, brought down one over 70lbs., of most ferocious
and villanous aspect, with the intention of entering him for a run, but
it was set aside by Wombwell; thus affording another proof that Wombwell
had the whole concern in his hands, and selected dogs unable, from their
weight or size, to do a mortal injury to his lion.
Wombwell appointed seven in the evening as the hour of combat.
Accommodations were prepared for about a thousand people, but owing to
the frequent disappointments and to the exorbitant prices demanded, not
more than two hundred and fifty persons appeared willing or able to pay
for the best places, and about as many more admitted on the ground. The
charge to the former was reduced to two guineas and one guinea, and to
the latter from half a guinea to 7_s._ 6_d._ About 400_l._ was
collected, from which, deducting 100_l._ for expenses, 300_l._ was
cleared by the exhibition, a sum barely the value of the lion if he
should lose his life in the contest. The cages in which the other beasts
were confined, were all closed up. It was well understood that no match
had really been made, and consequently no betting of consequence took
place, but among a few countrymen, who, contrasting the size of the lion
with the dogs, backed him at 2 to 1.
Wombwell, having no longer the fear of the law before him, proceeded to
complete his engagements, and distributed the following bills:--
“THE LION FIGHT.
“The following are the conditions under which the combat between Nero
and the dogs will be decided:--
“1st. Three dogs are at once to be slipped at him.
“2d. If one or any of them turn tail, he or they are to be considered as
beaten, and no one of the other remaining three shall be allowed to
attack him until twenty minutes shall be expired, in order to give Nero
rest; for he must be allowed to beat the first three, one by one, or as
he may choose before the remaining three shall be started.
“After the expiration of the stipulated time, the remaining three dogs
are to start according to the foregoing rules, and be regulated as the
umpires shall adjudge.
“The dogs to be handled by Mr. Edwards, John Jones, and William Davis,
assisted by Samuel Wedgbury.
“1. Turk, a brown coloured dog.--2. Captain, a fallow and white dog,
with skewbald face.--3. Tiger, a brown dog, with white legs.--4. Nettle,
a little brindled bitch, with black head.--5. Rose, a skewbald
bitch.--6. Nelson, a white dog, with brindled spots.”
The place chosen for the exhibition was, as we have said, the yard of a
large factory, in the centre of which an iron cage, about fifteen feet
square, elevated five feet from the ground, was fixed as the place of
combat. This was secured at top by strong open iron work, and at the
sides by wrought iron bars, with spaces sufficient between to admit the
dogs, and an ascending platform for them to run up. Temporary stations
were fixed at the windows of the factory, and all round the yard, and
the price for these accommodations named at the outrageous charge of
three guineas for the best places, two guineas for the second, one for
the third, and half a guinea for standing on the ground. Though the
place was tolerably well fitted up, it fell far short of what the mind
conceived should be the arena for for such a combat; but Mr. Wombwell
cared not a jot for the pleasures of the imagination, and counted only
the golden sovereign to which every deal board would be turned in the
course of the day, while his whole collection of wild beasts, lions,
tigresses, and wolves, with their whelps and cubs, apes and monkeys,
made up a goodly show, and roared and grinned in concert, delighted with
the bustle about them, as if in anticipation of the coming fun.
* * * * *
The _Morning Chronicle_ says,--The place chosen for the combat, was the
factory yard in which the first stage was erected for the fight between
Ward and Cannon. This spot, which was, in fact, extremely well
calculated for the exhibition, was now completely enclosed. We formerly
stated that two sides of the yard were formed by high buildings, the
windows of which looked upon the area; the vacant spaces were now filled
up by Mr. Wombwell’s collection of wild beasts, which were openly
exposed, in their respective cages, on the one side, and by paintings
and canvass on the other, so that, in fact, a compact square was formed,
which was securely hidden from external observation. There was but one
door of admission, and that was next the town. Upon the tops of the
cages seats were erected, in amphitheatrical order; and for
accommodation here, one guinea was charged. The higher prices were taken
for the windows in the factories, and the standing places were 10_s._
each. The centre of the square was occupied by the den, a large iron
cage, the bars of which were sufficiently far asunder to permit the dogs
to pass in and out, while the caravan in which Nero was usually
confined, was drawn up close to it. The den itself was elevated upon a
platform, fixed on wheels about four feet from the ground, and an
inclined plane formed of thick planks was placed against it, so as to
enable the dogs to rush to the attack. It was into this den that Nero
was enticed to be baited. Wombwell’s trumpeters then went forth, mounted
on horses, and in gaudy array, to announce the fight, which was fixed to
take place between five and seven in the evening. They travelled to
Leamington, and the adjacent villages; but to have done good they should
have gone still farther, for all who ventured from a distance on
speculation, announced that those they left behind fully believed that
their labour would be in vain.
The dogs attracted a good deal of curiosity. They took up their quarters
at the Green Dragon, where they held a levee, and a great number of
persons paid sixpence each to have an opportunity of judging of their
qualities, and certainly as far as appearance went, they seemed capable
of doing much mischief.
On Tuesday morning several persons were admitted to the factory to see
the preparations, and at about ten o’clock the dogs were brought in.
They seemed perfectly ready to quarrel with each other, but did not
evince any very hostile disposition either towards Nero, who, from his
private apartment, eyed them with great complacency, or towards the
other lion and lionesses by whom they were surrounded, and who, as it
were, taunted them by repeated howlings, in which Nero joined chorus
with his deep and sonorous voice. The cruelty of unnecessarily exposing
such an animal to torture, naturally produced severe comments; and among
other persons, a quaker, being in the town of Warwick, waited upon Mr.
Wombwell, on Tuesday morning, with Mr. Hoare’s letter, which he said he
had received twenty miles from the town. However well meant this letter
was, and that it arose in the purest motives of christian charity no man
could doubt: with Mr. Wombwell it had no effect. He looked at his
preparations, he looked at his lion, and he cast a glance forward to his
profits, and then shook his head.
The pain of the lion was to be Wombwell’s profit; and between agony to
the animal, and lucre to himself, the showman did not hesitate.
* * * * *
From the _Morning Herald_ report of this lion bait, several marked
circumstances are selected, and subjoined under a denomination suitable
to their character--viz:--
POINTS OF CRUELTY.
_First Combat._
1. The dogs, as if in concert, flew at the lion’s nose and endeavoured
to pin him, but Nero still kept up his head, striking with his
fore-paws, and seemingly endeavouring more to get rid of the annoyance
than to injure them.
2. They unceasingly kept goading, biting, and darting at his nose,
sometimes hanging from his mouth, or one endeavouring to pin a paw,
while the others mangled the head.
3. Turk made a most desperate spring at the nose, and absolutely held
there for a moment, while Captain and Tiger each seized a paw; the force
of all three brought the lion from his feet, and he was pinned to the
floor for the instant.
4. His great strength enabled him to shake off the dogs, and then, as if
quite terrified at their fury, he turned round and endeavoured to fly;
and if the bars of the cage had not confined him, would certainly have
made away. Beaten to the end of the cage, he lay extended in one corner,
his great tail hanging out through the bars.
5. Nero appeared quite exhausted, and turned a forlorn and despairing
look on every side for assistance. The dogs became faint, and panting
with their tongues out, stood beside him for a few seconds, until
cheered and excited by their keepers’ voices they again commenced the
attack, and roused Nero to exertion. The poor beast’s heart seemed to
fail him altogether at this fresh assault, and he lay against the side
of the stage totally defenceless, while his foes endeavoured to make an
impression on his carcase.
6. Turk turned to the head once more, and goaded the lion, almost to
madness, by the severity of his punishment on the jaws and nose.
7. The attack had continued about six minutes, and both lion and dogs
were brought to a stand still; but Turk got his wind in a moment, and
flew at his old mark of the jaw, which he laid hold of, and hung from
it, while Nero roared with anguish.
8. The lion attempted to break away, and flung himself with desperation
against the bars of the stage--the dogs giving chase, darting at his
flank, and worrying his head, until all three being almost spent,
another pause took place, and the dogs spared their victim for an
instant.
9. Turk got under his chest, and endeavoured to fix himself on his
throat, while Tiger imitating his fierceness, flew at the head. This
joint attack worked the spirit of the poor lion a little, he struck
Tiger from him with a severe blow of his paw, and fell upon Turk with
all the weight of the fore part of his body, and then grasping his paws
upon him, held him as in a vice.
10. Here the innocent nature of poor Nero was conspicuous, and the
brutality of the person who fought him made more evident, for the fine
animal having its totally defenceless enemy within the power of his paw,
did not put it upon him and crush his head to mince meat, but lay with
his mouth open, panting for breath, nor could all the exertions of
Wombwell from outside the bars direct his fury at the dog who was
between his feet.
11. It now became a question what was to be done, as Tiger crawled away
and was taken to his kennel, and there appeared no chance of the lion
moving from his position and relieving the other dog. However, after
about a minute’s pause, the lion opened his hold, released the dog and
got upon his legs, as if he became at ease when freed from the
punishment of his assailants.
12. Turk finding himself at liberty, faced the lion, flew at his nose,
and there fastened himself like a leech, while poor Nero roared again
with anguish. The lion contrived, by a violent exertion, to shake him
off. Thus terminated the first round in eleven minutes.
_Second Combat._
1. The three dogs were brought to their station, and pointed and excited
at the lion; but the inoffensive, innocent creature walked about the
stage, evidently unprepared for a second attack.
2. Word being given, the three dogs were slipped at once, and all darted
at the flank of the lion, amid the horrid din of the cries of their
handlers, and the clapping and applause of the mob. The lion finding
himself again assailed, did not turn against his foes, but broke away
with a roar, and went several times round the cage seeking to escape
from their fury.
3. The dogs pursued him, and all heading him as if by the same impulse,
flew at his nose together, brought him down, and pinned him to the
floor. Their united strength being now evidently superior to his, he was
held fast for several seconds, while the mob shouted with renewed
delight.
4. Nero, by a desperate exertion, cleared himself at length from their
fury, and broke away; but the dogs again gave chase and headed him once
more, sprung at his nose, and pinned him all three together. The poor
beast, lacerated and torn, groaned with pain and heart-rending anguish,
and a few people, with something of a human feeling about them, called
out to Wombwell to give in for the lion; but he was callous to their
entreaties, and Nero was left to his fate.
5. Poor Nero lay panting on the stage, his mouth, nose, and chaps full
of blood, while a contest took place between Wombwell and the keepers of
the dogs, the one refusing, and the other claiming the victory. At
length brutality prevailed, and the dogs were slipped again for the
purpose of finishing.
6. Nero was unable to rise and meet them, and suffered himself to be
torn and pulled about as they pleased; while the dogs, exulting over
their prey, mumbled his carcase, as he lay quite powerless and
exhausted. Wombwell then seeing that all chance of the lion coming round
was hopeless, and dreading that the death of the poor animal must be the
consequence of further punishment, gave in at last, and the handlers of
the dogs laid hold of them by the legs, and pulled them by main force
away, on which another shout of brutal exultation was set up, and the
savage sport of the day concluded.
_Nero’s Tameness._
Had he exerted a tithe of his strength, struck with his paws, or used
his fangs, he must have killed all the dogs, but the poor beast never
bit his foes, or attempted any thing further than defending himself from
an annoyance. On the whole, the exhibition was the most brutal we have
ever witnessed, and appears to be indefensible in every point of view.
* * * * *
In reprobating the baiting of this tame lion by trained and savage dogs,
the periodical press has been unanimous. The _New Times_ says, “We
rejoice to observe the strong feeling of aversion with which the public
in general have heard of this cruel exhibition. As a question of natural
history, it may be deemed curious to ascertain the comparative ferocity
of the lion and the bull-dog; but even in this respect the Warwick fight
cannot be deemed satisfactory; for though the lion was a large and
majestic animal, yet, as he had been born and brought up in a domestic
state, he had evidently little or nothing of the fury which a wild
animal of the same species evinces in combat. Buffon observes, that ‘the
lion is very susceptible of the impressions given to him, and has always
docility enough to be rendered tame to a certain degree.’ He adds, that
‘the lion, if taken young, and brought up among domestic animals, easily
accustoms himself to live with them, and even to play without doing them
injury; that he is mild to his keeper, and even caressing, especially in
the early part of his life; and that if his natural fierceness now and
then breaks out, it is seldom turned against those who have treated him
with kindness.’ These remarks of the great naturalist are very fully
confirmed by the conduct of poor Nero; for both before and after the
combat, he suffered his keeper, Wombwell, with impunity to enter his
den, give him water to drink, and throw the remainder over his head.--We
begin now to feel that a man has no _right_ to torment inferior animals
for his amusement; but it must be confessed that this sentiment is
rather of recent predominance. The gladiatorial shows of Rome, the
quail-fights of India, the bull-fights of Spain, may, in some measure,
keep our barbarous ancestors in countenance; but the fact is, that
bear-baiting, badger-baiting, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, and such
elegant modes of setting on poor animals to worry and torment each
other, were, little more than a century ago, the fashionable amusement
of persons in all ranks of life. They have gradually descended to the
lowest of the vulgar; and though there always will be found persons who
adopt the follies and vices of their inferiors, yet these form a very
small and inconsiderable minority of the respectable classes; and in
another generation it will probably be deemed disgraceful in a gentleman
to associate, on any occasion, with prize-fighters and pickpockets.” By
right education, and the diffusion of humane principles, we may teach
youth to shun the inhuman example of their forefathers.