The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-01-07 00:00:00

A RHINOCEROS AND THE ICE.

Mr. Frank Buckland rends to Land and Water the
following account of a "stninge ice accident" which occurred
to the rhinoceros at the ZJologteal Gardens, London, the
other morning :

The animal had been turnsl out that morning as
usual into the paddock beb.od the elephant-house
while the dens were being cleaned. The snow had
filen thickly during the bight, so that the pond WU
not to be distioguiphed from the ground. The rhino-
ceros, not seeing the pond, put her fore feet on the ice,
which immediately gave way, and in she went head
over heels with a crash. The keepers ran for Mr.
Bartlett, the resident superintendent. When he cams,
in a few minutee, he found the poor rhinoceros in great
danger of drowning, as she was floundering about
among great sheets of ice, under which she had pro-
bably been kept down till her great strength enabled
her to break up ths whole maw% Here, then, was a
most awk ward accident underunexptcted and novel cir-
cumstances. Mr. Bartlett, with his usual courage,
quickness, and readiness of resource, was quite equal
to the occasion. He immediately let the water off the
pond by knocking away a large plug which he
, has thoughtfully fixed instead of a tap, which is
liable to get out of order. In the meantime the poor
rhinoceros was in great danger of drowning, as the
pond is Oft. disp ; so, while the water was running off,
Mr. Bartlett,Tosing no time, sent for all the available
keepers and a long and strong rope; barrow loads of
gravel were at the same time strewed on the sloping
soles of the pond to give the exhausted animal a foot-
hold. The rope was then tossed round the haunches
of the rhinoceros, like the kickingitrap of a horse in
harness, and 26 men, one half at one end of the rope
and the other half at the other, pulled hard on the
rhinoceros; so that in her struggles to get up the bank
she would not only be supported, but pulled forcibly
forwards. After much hauling on the part of the men
and much plun4inz on the slippery bank of the pond
the rhinoceros was at las; landed on terra firma.
Toe salvors of this valuable living property had then
to look out for themselves. Mr. Bartlett had anti-
cipated this, for he had left the eliding gate of the en-
closure open just wide enough to let out one man at a
time, but not a rhinoceros. An absurd scene then en-
sued ; everybody rushed to the gate, but the first of
the fugitives from the rhinoceros, naturally stout and
possibly steuter at Christmas-time than mina!, jamnied
fast in the open gate, so that the other 25 men were in
the paddock with the rhinoceros. The poor frightened
and half-frozen beast luckily behaved very well; she
did not rush after the men, but stood still, privked her
ears and snorted, giving the keepers time to get out as
fast as they could, and how they could, through the
ingenious "man-hole," or guard, in the railing made
in case of etr ergencieth Neither the rhinoceros nor the
men received the slightest injury.
Shortly after the accident Mr. Bucldand saw the
rhinoceros munching her breakfast as if nothing had
happened. The rhinoceros was the big female; she
is about lOft. 6in, long and about sft, high at the
ehoulder, and she weighs at a guess between three and
four tons. The ice was four inches thick.

It is claimed for the Martini breecheloader, that
from the simplisity of its construction nom be readily and
rapidly manufactured, and that the work can be undertaken
by privet. makers.
Mr. William Penn Cox, the proprietor and editor of
the Leicester Advertmer .d other newepspers, died suddenly
on Friday in last week while writing at his desk. The de-
ceaeed gentleman was a Conservative in politics, and
member of the Leicester Town Council. Ilh age was fifty.
Henry Ward Beecher'a church has a total member-
shipot 1,9e0, of wlech 1 210 are w, men. For missile the church
pays 6,000 dole, divided as follows .—Direetor 2 OCO dole.;
tenor, 1,000 doll. ; soprano, cao dole. ; alto, 600 dole. ;
organht, 1,500 dole. The pew rents amount to 14,000 dols.
C The Record expresses a hope that Mr. Spurgeon's
ehristmas prayer for the Church of Zeeland 'and other
tpostate Churches," has been misreported. the Record is
he fliers ...Ming to believe net Mr. epurgeon indulged
in such language, because he is no opposed to the spread of
Rationalism ?mons Diesenters.
Natal papers say that Mr. Arthur Walker, jam,
who arrived M tbat colony early to Oetober, states that
when he left Leydenburg, in the 'Transvaal, he learnt from
Mr. George P. Meodie, who had just returned from Deluca
Bsy, that Dr. Livingstene was reported to beat Mosambique,
waitiug for a homeward-bound vessel.
Fifty troop-horses which took part on the French
side at the battle of Sedan, have been j.dned to the loyal
Artillery at Woolwich. They formed part of MtMahotr's
army which escaped the eurrender, and, being afterwards
shipped to England, were purchased at Grimsby, In Lincoln-
shire, of a contractor, by an officer who is constantly
engaged in such traffic on behalf of the Royal Artillery.
It must he owned that our French visitors in Lone
don make upon the whele a favourable impression on those
who come in centact with them (remarks the Court Journal).
People were not prepered to see so many tall, handsome,
and well fevoured men and women, with a lock of even more
than English prosperity and comfort about them, and
hitherto their conduct has been in all respecta beyond re-
proach.
The Melbourne Aryus states that an iniportant in-
vention has been submitted to the Victorian Government,
and is under consideration by • board. Ceptalu W. 11.
Fitmerald has taken steps to patent a new gen and gun-
carriage, and an engine of the mitrailleuse sort called "The
Annihilator," which will enable a few men to maintain a
discharge equal to a whole army.
A young man becoming engaged recent woe desiroun
of presenting his intended with a ring, appropriately In-
If we may judge from an account given by a cos, scribed, but being at a loss what to have engraved on it
f " aald the man,
spondent of the Item York Tribune ot the appearance caned upon his ather for advice.
!"
" put on 'when tnis you see remember me ' The yo oldune lady
of the Members of Congrees when they assembled ou wEeis much surprised a few days atter at receiving a beautiful
the 6th ult. at Washington, they have derived no email ring, with this inscription, "When this you see, remember
benefit from "the recess," and must be in fine phy- father..
sisal condition. Their personal attractions, also, must The King of Italy arrived at Florence from Rome on
be of no mean order. "Speaker Blame came fresh- Sunday moreiug. During his twelve hours' stay there he
ened and strengthened by country rest and sports—by sent by the Marquis Spinola a letter to the Pope, paying his
the air of the pine woods, by the winds of the hills, homage and explaining the object of his shit. This step, it
and the rocky comets of Maine." "Butler rolled in is said, was very well received by Cardinal Antenelli It le
with his walk that suggeeta a recent sea voyage, and IdgdiYthreecerplttijorenuoce.%r.rets.pyou.sloe;ilonfg
tilnsLetithpaLhoe
with his grim face brightened with smiles." Glimpses seemed well satisfied with his journey.
were caught of "Judd's genial ruddy face," reminding Somebody says editors are poor, whereupon a
the Tribune correspondent of " that of dear Charles Yankee paper caps—" Humbug. fl ore we are, editor of a
Dickens." Glimpaes were also caught "of the silver thine country newspaper, fairly rolling in wealth. We haves good
of Atwood'shair, of the wagging of Farnsworth's beard ; orbce, a paste pot, a douhle-barr6lled gun, two suits of
of the glow of Garfield's face and the gloom of Logan's_ ; clothes, three kittens, a lien °midland pup, two watches,
Dawois was there in full feather, and S,llenck with I three day and two night shirts, carpet on the flow., a pretty
wife, have cents hi ash, are out of t,
his face full of concentr eted force undisturbed by de-
no rich relativeninety
arec not wealthy, it hd •ee
pityand have
feat, and Kelly unelated by triumph. John Morriseey
was there with his Mead and shoulders of Hercules, The Tinies (in a leader) thinks there can be no man
and his fresh, healthful, and not unkindly face ; and is this country who will not share the anguish the French
amoothethavel Griswold ; and Judge Woodward, must feel at the prospect of a capitulation of Paris.
ir Buthistory the
eatest of natio. have heti at some period of the
towering like Saul among Ms brethren; and the grave rcr. bow to inexorable fate, and etoopine to the theeline Ports
Don Fernando, with his head thrown back, and his I did not meke Rime less powerful or less glorious. France
mosey moustache in air; and Brooks, looking Serene most have peace; honourable if she can, durable if she
again after his stormy run ; and Potter, strong on chooses, but, at all event., peace. We must not allow our-
dress as ever." Mr. Sypheis, the new member for iselves to be misled by the more clamour of generous but un-
thinking patriotism.
Louisiana, was sworn in, and was dressed as follows :
"He wore a coat and trousers made of some sort From April let to December 31st, the national re-
venue amounted to £45,410,189 as against £50.605 457 In the
of dark woollen stuff, and fitting rather loosely ng period of last year. As Mr. Lowe's budget
as though he had lost flesh in an arduous campaign. ewasiinlePselti Income tor the year was £67.634,000 more than
lime necktie was of some modest hue, his linen £21,00,000 must come In during the next three months, if
unexceptional, and he wore a bIA;k velvet waist- the right bon gentleman's andelpatioes are to he realised,
coat." The oath, we are told, "was a long ewear The expenditure In the nine months has been £49 480,951
(he balance In the Bank of England on Saturday last was
for a moderately taU man." Senator Browing was
there, "really much improved. He no longer site £2,6e8 255
utterly silent, impassive, and helpless in the The Daily Telegraph says that it has made inquiries
fearful isolation of his disease. Something of vitality, at Greenwich respecting a rsquirrition to Mr. Gladstone
Of human interest seems to have returned to his corpse- wt lb Liii r up
ntar,pwbnec.tye
like countenance, and his figure is less tremulous and (Reclaimed by theleading Conservatives of the place. The
emaciated. His is a constitution of iron and of oak, • address, the Telegraph believes " orightated with an obscure
will as elastic yet as endnring as steel. The old ship is clique of Conservative, who hope to derive some relvardage
a wreck, but has not struck its colours, and there is from the distress lathe town, and from the discontent which
yet shot in the locker and powder in the magazine,
Is the assumed consequence of thet distress" Tre only copy
Simon Cameron seemed to be in excellent health and 0; tiia, a
.he document seen by our contemporary's reporter had no
t 0.
spirite, The handsome face of Senator Cole wore a g
freshened glow, Senator Wilson was as ruddy and The Commissioners appointed to acquire into the
allegations of 111-treatment made by the Feelan prisoners
shiny as a new England apple, while Vice-President have now issued tiler rennet. They declare that, after a
Colfax beamed on the Alseembly, and Senator roMerey patient and minute investigation, there Is no ground for
beamed back again, the belief that the convicts were subjected to exceptionally
There must be some pleasure in being a member of innotrnreittmelottlm°el6eheps'onnt"aurrisotrtgees 17. en arcit=
such a genial jovial assembly as this (remarks the Pall certain relsxetiens litscipline In their favour. A recom
Moll (cazette) and our own members of the House of mendstion is made, from which, however, Mr. Greenhow
Commons, whatever may be their physical condition, die erste, that a detached port'on of some convict prince
might at least try this Seasion to look a little more should be set spurt for off enders of this class.
lively than they did last year. The extreme grimness A slight accident that happened the other night at
of the present Parliament is really anational calamity. Berlin, produced as much excitement as the murder of one
man at Lyons, or the slaughter of thousuels st Metz. At the
Circus Rene a certein lady rejoicing in the name of
Emehresine Rost has been imperilling her neck by traversing
the building on a velocipede across a tightrope. She Inel
jut mossier the circus, When she lost her balaece and fell
Into the pit. By strangelluck, she hurt nobody but herself,
and, etrenger still, she ree, teed no external injuries. She
comolained. however, of pain, and next day there was no
pirformance.
On Saturday evening the French war steamer
Gm:cane, at Qmenetown, was receiving coal from a lighter
alongside, when an officer of the guardship went on 'cud
the lighter, called the attention of the person in charge to
the Q seen'. Proclamation, and warned him that if more coal
were put on board than was necessary to convey the .hip to
the nearest French port, he would be liabie to the peualties
for furnishing contraband of war. The coaling of the ship
was at once discontinued, forty tons of the one hundred re.
etnired having at the time been put on board the Guyenne.
Saiesequently the careens of the Guyenne, who was ou shore
when the ineldent occurred, asked for an explanation from
the AdmiraL Ile was informed that if he pledged his
henour the coal was necessary to carry him to the nearest
French port he would have it. This assurance he declined
to give. It has transpired that the ttuyenne had six hundred
tons of coal In her banker', and merely wanted to replace
the quantity consumed en the voyage from Cherbourg.
bast week the aggregate mortality in London and
15 other large towns of the Untied Kit glom washc the ratio
01 31 death. abnually to every 1,000 it the population. It
varied fr. 18 in Portsmouth, to 49 in Liveries et. In the
metrepois 2,041 births, ard 1,760 deaths were reelstered,
the former having been 105 below, and the latter 51 above
the average Zmotic disesll33 caused 419 death., Including
110 from small-pox, 29 from measles, 110 Iron scarlet fever,
eight from diphtheria, 15 from croup, 49 from whooping-
cough, 10 from typhus, 21 from enteric tor typhoid, fever,
one from relapsir g foyer, 12 from simple continued
fever; 10 from eryaipelle, and 6 from diarrhea. The
fatality from small-pex is rapidly increasing. During
the liret 13 weeks of the year 1370 the number of
fatal cases registered was 99; In the next 13 weeks the
number was 118 in the following 13 weeks of the summer
quarter the deaths rose to 157; and in the last 13 weeks of
the year they amounted to 501. Altogether there were 958
Mal cases registered in the hi weeks Of 167 d.