The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-12-26

yrom the New Yak Sun.
Capt. Caleb Cronkman, an old and high
~ respected resident of the Twenty-second
Ward, owned, until lately, gigantic os-
trich, that was as Familiarity known in the
region as himself. The great bird disap-
peared about three weeks ago, and yester-
day a Sun reporter asked tie Captain
where it was. The Captain said that be
received On Friday the following dispatch
from his trainer, In HobokeR:
The ostrich Is dead"
Zone morning in June" the Captain
continued. Il was aroused by q peculiar
cackling sound at my door, and | dis
covered in the hall u gi-
gantic ostrich. which had
Just bitten off my door-knob, and was at
that moment devouring it. With the and
OF some of the gentlemen in the house |
secured the bird and turned him into the
back yard. The next morning an adver-
tisment appeared offering reward for the
ostrich, watch had escaped from me-
nagerie. / was so charmed with the
bird S unique endeavor 10 satisfy his sppe-
tite that bought him, and got him cheap
by turning over the reward In part pay
ment.
81 occupied the rear room on the second
door. with window opening on the root
of the extension. | put fence around
the roof, and thus made nice pen for the
ostrich. and for some days | gave the
glazier constant employment in restoring
the window glass that the ostrich had eat
en- out. Finally settled this bother by
planking up the window, and thereafter
the only trouble the ostrich gave me was
when he took advantage Of the careless
ness Of some gentleman who had LETT the
bathroom window open. On such
occasions the ostrich would slip
down into the dining-room snd
eat few plates and tumblers: but, as a
rule. he got enough from the fragments Of
broken crockery and glassware which the
house afforded. and now and then junk
bottle salad, or a dish Of crooked nails as
delicacy.
But one day. about three weeks ago.
he crept down into the dining-room. and
remained there undisturbed for a longer
time than usual. and before he was discov-
cred he had cleared one table of crockery,
glassware, knives and forks, spoons, caster
and all. and finished up by swallowing the
tablecloth. Notwithstanding the great
quantity and the nourishing quality Of the
food taken. he seemed to pine away from
that meal forward, and about two weeks
ago had him taken over to my Hoboken
farm, thinking that change Of air and
scene might be beneficial. Still he grew
worse, and finally, about week ago, ]
bought out hardware store on Union Hill,
and turned the bird into it, hoping that
the sight of all the hardware on the
shelves, with the privilege feating what.
ever pleased his fancy. might brace him
up. But. in spite of all these efforts, he
faded and died, as set forth in the brief
telegram which read TO you.
I'VE run HIM through stone crusher,
and found in him about two barrels Of iron,
stone and glass, and. last of all, the la
ble-cloth. which was the real cause Of his
Heath. The wonderful machinery which
could crush stone jug like an eggshell
was overcome by that paltry tablecloth.
which had got so twisted and wedged
among the cogs and bearings that the APP
paratus could work no longer. and, doubt.
less. life was burden to the ostrich and
It died.