The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-01

a RHINoCERos AND THE ICE.-Mr. Frank
Bnckland writes to Land and Water an nc
count of q "strapge ice accident" to the
rhinoceros at the Geological Gardens, Lon.
don, recently. The animal had been turn
cd out as usual into the paddock behind
the elephant-house while the dens were
being cleaned. The snow had fallen thickly
during the night, so that the pond was not
to be distinguished 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 keeper ran for Mr..
Bartlett, the resident superintendent.
When he came, in few minutes, b. found
the poor rhinoceros in great danger Of
drowning, as she was houndering about
among 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 n most awkward
accident under unexpected and novel cir
cumStances. Mr.. Bartlett, with his usual
courage, quickncss, and readiness of re-
source, was quite equal to the occasion. He
Immediately let the water off the pond by
knocking away large plug which he has
thoughttully fixed instead of tap, which
is liable to get out Of order. In the mean
time the poor rhnoceros was in great
danger of drowning, rs the pond is
nine feet deep; so, while the water
was running off, Mr.. Bartlett, losing
no time, sent for all the available
keepers and 4 long and strong rope !;
barrow loads Of gravel were at the same
time strewed on tue sloping sides of the
pond to give the exhausted animal foot
hold. The rope was then tossed round the
launches uf the rhinoceros, like the kick
lng-strap OF horse in harness, and twenty
six men, one half at one end of the
rope, and the other halt at the other,
pulled hard oil The rhinoceros so
that i'll her struggles TO Get I'D the
bank she would not only be supported, but
pulled forcibly forward. After much haul
ing on the part Of the men and much plung-
ing on the slippery bank of the pond, the
rhinoccrOs was at last landed on terra trina.
The Salvors Of this valuable living property
had then TO look out for themselves. Mr..
Bartlett had anticipated this, for he had left
the sliding gate Of the Enclosure open just
wide enough to let out one man at a time,
but not Hhinoceros. An absurd scene
then enSued. Everybody rushed to the
gate. but the first OF the fugitlves from
the rhinoceroS, naturally stout, and pos
sibly stouter at ChriStmaS-time than usual,
damned fast in the open gate, SO that
the other twenty-five men were in the
paddock with the rhinoceros. The poor
frightened and halt-lroZen beast luckily be-
haved veIv well; she did not rush after the
+: men, but stood still, pricked her ears, and
snor,ed, giving the keepers time to get out
Is fast as they could through the ingenious
man hole" or guard in the railing, made
in ease of. emergencies. Neither the rhi-
nrccroS nor the men received the slightest
injury. Shortly after the accident, Mr..
auckland saw the rhinoceros munchiny her
breakfast as if nothing had happened. The
rhinocc1os WAS the big female she is about
ten feet six inches long, and about five feet
high at the shoulder, and she weighs, ut Il
guess, between three and four tons. The
Ice was four inches thick.