Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-03
ARhinncerns aud The Ice

Mr.. Frank auckland writes to Land and Water
an account OF Strange ice accident" to the
rhinoceros at the geological gardens, London,
recently. The animal had been turned out as
usual into the paddock behind the elephant house
while the dens were being cleaned. The snow
had fallen thick duIing the night, so that the
pond was not to be distinguished from the
ground. The rhinoeeros, 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 came in a
few minutes, he found the poor rhinoceros in
great danger of drowning, as she was 6oundering
about among great sheets of ice, under which she
had probably been kept down till her great
strength enabled her to break up the whole
mass. Here, then, was a most awkward acct
dent under unexpected and novel circumstances
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 large plug which he
has thoughtfully fixed instead Of 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 nine feet deep; so,
while the water was running off, Mr.. Bartlett,
losing no time, sent for all the available keep
ers and long and strong rope; barrow loads OF
gravel were at the same time strewed on the
sloping sides of the pond to give the exhausted
animal a foothod. The rope was then tossed
round the launches of the rhinoceros like the
six 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 forward. After much haul
ing on the part of the men and much plunging
on the slippery bank Of the pond, the rhinoceros
was at last landed on terra firma. The salvors
of this valuable living properly had then to look
out for themselves. Mr. Bartlett had anticipated
this, for he had left the sliding gate of the in
closure open just wide enough to let out one
man at time, but not rhipoceros. An absurd
scene then ensued; everybody rushed TO the
gate, but the FIRST of the fugitives from the rbi
noceros, naturally stout, and possibly stouter at
Christmas time than usual, jammed fast in the
open gate. so that the other twenty-five men
were in the paddock with the rhinoceros. The
poor frightened and halffrozen beast luckily be-
hayed very well, she did not rush after the men,
but stood still, pricked her ears aud snorted Civ.
ing the keepers time TO get out as fast as they
could, and how they could, through the ingen-
ions "man-hole," or guard, in the rating made
in case of emergencies. Neither the rhinoceros
nor the men recei, ed the slightest injury Short
| ly after the accident Mr.. Blckland saw the rhi-
noceros munching her breakfast as if nothing
had happened. The rhinoceros was the big fe-
male; she is about ten feet six inches long and
about I've feet high at the shoulder, and she
| weighs, at guess, between three and four tons.
| The ice was four inches thick.