The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-06-07
THE DEATH OF THE SWANS.

Regard 20 tho Cause OF their Death
Post M0rtem ExaminatAon by Ore. Do
rsmus and Chilson-The Five sarvf-
vers-Histerical Account OF the Birds.
The announcement in yesterdays HERALD Of the death,
Of seven Of the st Central Park under csrcun-
stances which led 10 the belief that they possned
either accidentally or Otherwise oocasoned no LILLE ex-
element throughout the city during the day The excite
ment ndeei could hardly have been greater had terri
bic calamity taken place in midst, such feel
Ing that these beautiful creatures hal inspired.
II seems that II about two O'Clock Tuesday After
noon one Of the Central Park police Of the
swans In droopinglcondiuou and exhibiting other signs
Of Sickness He Immediately put out in . b,a. and
brought them 70 shore, where in few Aner
wards they expired. Their death was accompanied
with those violent symptoms indicative Of poi
sonipg, such oonvulsve nutterngs twisting OF the
head upon the back, and frothng a the mouth About
dusk four Of the birds discovered be smi.
aryIAneoted and In ashort time Afterwards hey 100 ex
pred Aer sunset search instituted for remain.
Ing i've, which, was feared might have shared smi-
hr hts No search unavAng, bal the park keepers
were srstned Waiting the pond early yestsrdsy
morning, to and the missing birds Ing gracefully OYER
The water and approaching walters Whenever the latter
70 the edge Of the pond -Four Of them, two pairs
Of mates seemed In excellent spirits and the enjoyment
q perfect health, while The ah, widow Tor wdo-sr),
absence Of il mate.
Al Late hour on Tuesday evening, BY order Of Com
missioner Green four Of the dead swans were conveyed
70 the City Hospital whore under the supervision Of Dr.
Buck they were placed Zoe preparatory 70 poss
tom examination on the following morning YESTERDAY
forenoon one Of the birds transferred for puy
pose 70 Drs Doremus and Chiffon and conveyed 70 tre
laboratory Of the former In East Eighteenth street Owing
70 The elaborate nature of the process the result Of tho
examination cannot be made known for . day or two
That the death OF the csused BY poison or
by substance poisonous In s effects upon the oi de-
there hardly any room for doubt The crcumstausss Of
poisoning intentional, and done BY macaously
disposed person, another question Let hope for tho
various theories have been advanced y 70 the manner
In which they may have been accidentally poisoned me
swans are very domestic and win approach the shore Of
the pond when visitors Offer food. Now IL may be that In
this way unwholeeome and deeterous articles OF food
were given them. Is well known tina. SALT skseraaus,
esthered tribe, and these articles may have been river
the swans in the pieces Of cake, cracker and The IKE
Again they very eaters and q srse ous,
titles OF food given them above described they
:9
probable OF all II hss also been suggested that the
birds have eaton poisonous vsssabs or plant
growing In the bushes surrounding the pond
me most probable theory however 10 thsi forth 10
the viewsof correspondent, whose lsuer We hsreto
Oeen for some ne pest endesvorns 70 rel ra Of Ia
swsrms Of rats which infect The locality and for whh
prevent accident: with vssr. VS. scattered ssoupa
upon the rocks and In the shyubbey What moro pro-
babs than that the birds fell in with and payo,E Of ms
poisoned rood
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
fhs death orssvsra Of the swans rsosntly coouzsi in
the Central Park recorded In HnArD Of THE morn
ing added that their demise n attributed to po,sos
that The police In ssasch Of the perp.tssorno doubt
ranging far and wide-and that the bodies ere "a on ,oc
| for dissection and examination by DR.. Bask
Allow constant reader 70 prophecy for (prcvoas
70 the even tho result Of that u Z,
say, what the doctor win nnd In the swsus and Who viii
DO discovered TO have been the authors Of this out.
| raseous and barbsrcus piece Of mischief"
Inside Of tho swans Win DO found arsenic and he IN.
voluntary poisoncn viii bs found TO oes very worthy ct
Of gentlemen, whose general Management ofthe oeavaI
Park has given almost unver saiisscton-I mean the
Central Park Commissioners.
Food, mixed With arsenic, has long since been
placed on the artificial rocks and islands, duly pointed
out by boards inscribed with tie warning "poison.n
These Hamburg sssns being unsopa,snss.e aod be-
genoe conveyed BY Inscription 70 ose able 70
read and Understand the Engish tongue
this untowArd incident for the benefit me ssd Ohm Ms
noneu-
In the ars. place, tho Central park sometimes visited
byunfesbercd bpeds who either aaonabe read
70 understand the warning board the unueky
1ID The next, geological collection, consst manly Of
locality, and should be understood n tine the, Arseaio
not either The natural food even vholesons c,udi-
I, may BE- fairly doubted w6snsr even agrees Win
American br "a animals (cxoept the rsts,
have shrivep and multiple upon .hs numerous BIRDS
once ephvening the scene or mskng The groves
musical" having entirely disappeared snos the
fortunate distribution Of the poison. VIA profound yn
patty Tor the modification Of the veil meaning sutnoss Of
this calamity, will prove qualification 70 dad thst
one has been base enough purpcssy 70 have perpsssi