Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-02-07
A RhinOcerOus and the Ice.

Mr.. Frank auckland writes to Land and
UTter an account of "strange ice accident"
to the rhinOcerOus at the Geological Gardens,
London, recently. Tho animal had been
turned out Us usual into the paddock behind
the elcphant-hUuse while the deus were being
cleaned. The snow had fallen thickly during
the night, so that the pond was not to be dis.
tiDguished from the ground. The rhinOceros.
not seeing the pond, put her fore feet on the
ice, which Immediately gave way, and in she
went, head over heels with crash. The keep.
ers ran for Mr. bartlett, the resident superin.
tendent. When he came, in n few minutes
he found the poor rhinocerous in great danger
OF drowning. as she was huundering about
among great sheets of ice, under which she
had probably been kept down till her great
strength eUab!ea her to break up the whole
mass. Here, then. was a most awk ward acci-
deut under unexpected aud novel circumstan-
ces. Mr. Bartlett, with usral courage, quick
ness and readiness OF resource, was quite
equal TO the occasion. lie immediately let
the waller off the pond by knocking away a
large plug which he has ,houghrfUlly fixed in
stead 0i tap, winch Is liable to get out of
order. In the meantime the poor rhincceros
was in great danger of drowning, as the pond
is nine feet deep; 30, while tho water WAS
running off, Mr.. Bartlett, losing NO time. sent
for all the available keepers aud long and
strong rope, barrow loads OF gravel we're at
the same time strcwed on the sIoping sides of
the pond, TO give the exhausted animal . foot.
hold. The rope WaS then Tossed round the
launches Of the ThinoceFOus like the kicking
strap OF horse in harness, aud tWentv.six
men, One-half at one end Of the rope and the
other half at the other, pulled hard on the
rhinocerOs 80 that in her struggles 10 get up
the bank she would no, only be supported.
but pulled forcibly forward. After much
hauling on the part of the men, aud much
Plunging on the slippery bank Of the pond,
the rhiuOcerOs was at last landed on terra
frBld. The salvors of this valuable living
property had then TO look out for themselves
MIR. Bartlett had anticipated this, for he had
left the sliding gate Of the incIosure open lust
wide enough TO let out one man at a time. but
not ThinocerOs. An absurd scene then
ensued everybody rushed TO the gate, but the
first of the fugitives from the rhinoceros. nat,
urally stout, aud possibly stouter at Christmas.
time then usual, jammed fast in the open
gate; so that the other twenty Eve men were
in the paddock with the rhinoeeros. The
poor frightened aud halE-frozen beast luckily
behaved very we'll she did not ruih after the
men, but stood still, prieked her ears and
snOrted, giving the keepers tiuas 20 ret out as
fast as they could, and how they eOald, through
the ingenious ''man,hole," or nnsPd. in the
railing, made in case of emergsScieA Neither
the rhinOcerOs nor the men received the sliaht.
est injury. Shortly after the accident Mr..
Bucklsnd Faw the rhiuoceros muucbinc her
breakfast as If nothing had happened. The
rhinOeerOs was the big female she is about
ten feet six inches long aud about Eve feet
high at the shoulder. and she weighs. At
guess. between three aud four tons. The ice
was four inches thick.