, 1879-01-05
CENTRAL PARKS SWAN
Tho Death Of "JeH," the Children's Fayor,
lite, at III Advanced AEe-


4tEV VIA oH".
Six Young swans sat In q circle on the ice IN
the reserve pond at Seyenty-second street in thu
Central Park yesterday. Other swans, blact
red, white, or yellow-oeaked, were gathered
about them, aud the smaller varieties Of water.
fowl were scattered around The h:rle swans
we're dispiritcd and mournful, and their web
footed companions apparently sympathszed with
them. Every few ninutesfone Of the cygret :,
arose on the tips Of. its toes, stretched out til
neck, and, after giving vent to nonrnfu lpte
settled pack into despondency- The sl1 youae
swans were orphans. Their mother, ''Jef,S
the oldest of the Park swans, lay dead beside
them when daylight dawned last Sunday. "
Superintendent Conklin spoke IN terms Of
affection OF the old swan. >.
ssSnc was known all over the country,n he
said. She was presented TO the Park by tie
Trustees OF the Spring Grove Geneter, ot
Cincinnati in 1866. She waddled so funnil7
and was so masculine in her disposition, that
the keepers ncknamed her JeH- She soon won
the affection OF the chill lrcn, vino came tae,e
daily and always brought JEFF some luxury. She :.
refused to mate with any English swan, and
that dared to trespass on the lake. Jef wss
peculiar in her likes and disiikes; she lc7ed
children, and there are many that will mourn
the death OF their pet. To policemen she bore"
special aversion, aud the sight OF gray COST
was sufficient to drive JEFF crazy. Flapping her ;.
wings and With feathers rutiled she
would attacS him and compel MIN to
quit the neighborhood OF the lake. Tbs
police, however, made capital, :s IS Gus
tornary with them, OF their euemy. Instead 0f>
attempting to curry favor with JET, they made :.
her hate item so that at the rery sound Of 1ter.
feet, either IN the night Or day, she would:
startIe the echoes OF the park by blowing bes
shrill trumpet 10 the palrolmep JeT became
uuwittingly Of great service Knowing hos
quickly sue would detect their steps, the mrn,,
saatrirp hn2f II hV hif3ntF
Of the many cottages near the lake. would, on
hearing the shrill, piercing blast, know thar the
Sergeant or Captain was approaching, and would
scamper back to their posts
s'At breeding time," Superintendent ConkIfn
said, .'thc swans, having mated, divide the lake,
among themselves. Then it Is death to aDY
swan that dare treapass on the reserve. The
male stands Jealous guard, and will be killed
before he will permit another swan, or man, Or
beast to approach the nest JcH alone disre-
gardcd this rule, and would swim boldly around
the lake, defying al" >-
Two years ago, alr. Conklin succeeded, after
great difficulty, in mating JEFF with fEe
African swan, vino became devoted to her. Last
dfe OF the lake. and there made her nest In
The course Of time six young swans were hath-
ed. The African was even proudaF OF his Jpung
than JEFF, and when jeff sought her Afternoon !
sesta the African would tow the little cygn3h
around and guard them jealously. Last August
the park, on seeing the six fat little ledglinss
attacked them. The parernal African blew Dis
warning trumpet. jeff swan quickly to she
rescue of her young and landed them On Ihs
island, but wntn she returned she found her
mate torn to pieces and dcad. jeff incurred
her loss deeply.
Three years ago the Park police obserrcds
young and pretty woman, dressed in mourning,
WHO 0aily sat at the edge OF the lake and led
JEFF with cake and bread for hours. She would
fo}f u.hf, Il havPn
caress her. Sometimes the young woman
would begin to sing in soft, low tones, and then :
Jetf showed the greatest pleasure. Thu po!iSe, Z
curious to know who this strange acting yoaes.
They suw her enter house on Madison avenue, :,
and then learned that the young woulan's mind
was affected by the grief caused by her lover has
ing been killed in the War. Her family knew of
her visits, and, unknown to herself, had her
ciosely followed.
Superintendent Conklin yesterday sent Jed's
remains to lhe museum Of the Brown UnlVer-
sitY in Providence. :.