The New York herald., 1874-11-09
THE CATASTROPHE.

Park Ia well known to most New Yofkers; but it
appears that changes were made recently in the
disposition OF the various animals, and to realize
the exact nature OF che catastrophe 1t becomes
necessary TO indicate where the various animals
were situated yesterday when the lrightful event
occurred that spread ouch terror throughout the
city. fyou enter the menagerle from Filth ave.
nue. you VIII ind on either hand, running parallel
TO the street, the houses where the herbivorous
beasts were dOmiclied. In former times several
bears from the northern regions occupied the
right hand corner. where few beautiful zebras
lately gladdened the eye. To the extreme lett were
the cages OF the several foreign birds formerly de-
voted to a large collection Of monkeys TO the ex-
treme right were the vultures ana eagles, and the
visitor. by making short circuit or the large
building, known Ia times gone by as the Arsenal.
found himself IN front OF handsome wooden
structure, one story hign where the principal
wild animals resided. or course the residence OF
the sea hon was known to everybody. On the in
side OF the garden the stately giraffe occupied
somewhat large enclosure, and adjacent were
number OF pelicans, tntermlnged with several
specimens Of the ostrich tribe. The bears were In
isolated cages on the green sward, near the COM
mon pedestrian route from the Fifth avenue en-.
trance.
THE PROMINENT ANIMALS
In the quadrangle nearest to Fifth avenue were
VIC DAooAs VIZ uyAku0us ACuus buC bdCIeQ Uulle
cow and call, the zebras, the young elephant, the
capyDara, the guanaco the fat talled Syrian var,
the aoudad and the fallow deer In the valuable
monkey collection was the sooty mangabey, the
D0nnet macaque, the TOque monkey, the pig taled
monkey. the Arabian baDoon, the black handed
spider monkey, tue brown capuchin, the Teetee
and the black cared marmoseI such was the
THE TERRIBLE EVENTS
OF yesterday-tne bursting forth Of the most
lerOClOuy OF the beasts within menaperA
the Park, tue awful slaughter tnaI ensued, the ex-
citing conflicts between the infurlaled animals,
the IrRhtIul deaths that followed, the destruction
OF property and the fearful and general excite
ment. making an era IN the history or New YORK
sunday. or all days In tue week, should make
the occasion or such great panics as mark tue
morning that witnessed the destruction Of Chicago
aud Boston, and SaDbatn afternoon beheld the
81 YORK gwen up 70 the 1ay Of drove
Westfeld exploded her boiler. But yesterday
capped the climax Of unthougnt possibilities, and
IL was the SABBATH, too, that deepened the slgnt-
ncance VI che great disaster.
As everybody knows. the Central Park on sun
DAY Is the popular resort OF all classes. The rich
aud fashionable 10 their carriages and the poor
aud humble on foot, alike sally forth to enjoy
ooO people ea the he N rioas oa =. wsies. .sas.
drives and avenues Yesterday. To nine-tenths
Is cniet source Of astract,on rnas 1t consained
the elements OF sangulnary disaster to q multi.
philosophy OF anybody. It would be vain OF the
writer TO presume himself capaDe OF picIurlnr the
narrowing scenes o. which m ne was dlstre ssed
an adequate conception OF the frIgntlul incident
waerc Lincoln, the Numidian lion, urged To indie.
scrbable Jury by tine bullets that pierced his
hanks and shoulders jumped into u andauet oc-
cupied by Dursemaid and her 1our young
all sign OF recognition would be difficult task.
But let me endeavor to describe the fearful scenes
with sOine attempt at order NV head is SO con-
fused and my nerves SO unstrung with the fearful
scenes through which have passed that confess
am hardly equal to picturing them.
FIRST OAINOUs SYMPTOMS.
The writer stood within hundred yards OF the
menagerie when the nrst omlnous symptoms Of
the approaching catastrophe were heard The
doors OF the man structure wherein the primer.
pal wild animals were confined, were closed at
and children, were still lingering in the vicinity.
Five or Six OF the Park police were stationed In
Flitn avenue and Sixty-iourth street making a
record OF the number OF visitors passing In.
another AM was stationed tor similar purpose on
entrance, at the corner OF Ffty-nlnth street.
Within the arsenal there appears TO have been q
duty aud did not appear until late at night. Mr.
Conkiin. the director OF the menagerie, was At his
post, like good soldier. 1t was
CALM. PEACEFUL AND PLEASING SCENE
In the early hours OF the afternoon. Children ran
about from cage to cage IN the perfect fulness OF
delight. stream OF people released from the
cares and labors OF the week wandered through
the grounds, pausing here to admire the beautiful
ZebraS ana stopping there to laugh over the
amusing antics OI the nonKeys The idea OF dan.
ger could only be suggested to create laughter and
derision. Certainly nobody seriously Contemplated
the possibility OF peril where seemingly massive
cages restrained the Wild aud savage instincts OF
the various beasts Of prey. The rninoceros ap-
PICTURE OF STUPID AM1AB1L1rY:
the Numidlan hon wore look OF the grossest indo-
lence, the Bengal tiger seemed as harmless az a
prostrate forest tree, the hears Invited caressng
acquaintance, the boa constructor might have been
IRON the nngers OF little cnd suggested an ex.
treme condition Of tameness and 1ocllity. In all
hyena, the spirit OF the day appeared to dwell.
THg ORIGIN OF THE AWFUL CALAMITY.
I, IN very lew Icy m0merts the whole aspect was
Gated that Chris. Anderson the keeper, one or
whose charges was Pete, the rhiDoceros, in walk
ing around alter the puolc was excluded, stopped
IN 'front.' OF the den OF the huge animal above men,
toned. He was seen TO poke his cane through
the bars at the great beast and was warned BY
Keeper Miller to desist. The latter was leaving
the building at the monIent he demonstrated VITA
Anderson. and to TINS circumstance. douDtiess
called out to Anderson. The latter had a fashion,
II appears, OF teasing the ANIMALS, although
ne was often known to eject persons
from the building for similar practices. Anderson
paid no attention to the warnings of his fellow
nave entered tue eye OF the rhlnoceros NUM-
Der oil boys who were Deerlng In through the wln-
dows on the north SIDE of the building attracted
the attention OF the writer by their cries,
"LooK, HES BREAKING oUTp,
anere was crashing nearu within and the boys
window. drawn by curiosity which was lrre-
slstiule. My example was soon followed by
others. many women struggling for IL place. IL
was some moments before could make out what
was transporting within. A keeper was standing
In the midae ol the open space apparently spell
bound. Another was standing iurther wn. grasp
ing crow bar. hs gaze directed toward the pen or
the rhlnOcer0s. The short, angry, squeaKlng cry oil
the rhinoceros, ike sudden blasts on q hsnhorn,
were heard amid the sound OF swapping bars aud
crashing panks 1t At once struck me that the huge
animal was breaking down the walls of his pen in
the endeavor doubtless TO reach his tormentor.
Not aware OF any cause Tor TINS sudden exhibition
OF rage, none OF the Iasclnated crowd at the WIN
COW measured the danger 0f their position or the
opjsct oil the iniuriated beast. The keeper
taiterward found to be Anderson) now
rushcd forward and struck at the animal.
We could not see whether lls blows reached the
rhinoeeros or not, but their effect was soon told.
A crash which shook the building followed aud the
front OF ,he pen eH outward and the horrld, mas
shapcn mass OF Pete, the rhlnoceros, rushed out.
Ills ouple horned head close to the ground.
Anderson made q sprIng sldeWaXs to 0vad0