Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-03-28
A Hard Story to Swallow.

Capt. Caleb Cronkman, an old and
highly respected resident OF the twenty
second Ward, owned, until lately, gi-
gantic ostrich, that was as Familiarity
known in the region as himself. The
great bird disappeared about three
weeks ago, and yesterday San re-
porter asked the captain where it was.
The captain said that he received on
Friday the following despatch from
his trainer in Hoboken, "The ostrich
is dead"
Zone morning in june" the captain
continued, ct was aroused by pecul-
lar cackling sound at my door. and I
discovered in the hall gigantic os-
trich. which had just bitten off my
door knob, and was at that moment de-
vourIng it. With the aid of some OF
the gentlemen in the house, secured
the bird and turned it into the back
yard. The next morning an advertise
ment appeared, offering q reward for
the ostrich, which had escaped from q
mensgerie. 1 was so charmed with
the birds unique endeavor to satisfy
its appetite that I bought it, and got it
cheap by turning over the reward in part
payment.
Il occupied rear room on the Sec
ond floor, with a window opening on
the roof of the extension. l put up q
fence around the roof, and thus made O
nice pen for the ostrich, and for some
days gave glaxier constant employ
ment in restoring the window glass that
the ostrich had eaten out. Finally
settled this bother by planking up the
window. and the only trouble the os-
trich gave me was when he took advan-
tage of the carlsssness Of some gentle.
man who had left the bathroom win
dow open. On such occasions the os-
trich would slip down into the room
and eat few plates and tumblers but,
as rule, he got enough from the frag-
ments of broken crockery and glass
ware which the house afforded, with
now and then q junk bottle salad, or
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 q
longer time than usual, and before he
was discovered he had cleared one ia
BILE of crockery, glassware, knives and
forks, spoons, casters and all, aud fin
ished up by swallowing the table cloth.
Notwithstanding the 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 hard
ware ON the shelves, with The privilege
of eating whatever pleased his fancy
might brace him up. But in spite of
all his efforts he faded and died, as set
forth in the brief telegram which read
to you.
1--WE run him through stone
crusher, and found in him about two
barrels of iron, stone and glass. and,
last of all, that table-cloth which is the
real cause of his death. The wonder
full machinery which could crush q
stone Jug like an egg-shell was ever
come by that paltry tablecloth, which
had got SO twisted and wedged among
the cogs and bearings that the appara-
tus could work no longer. and doubt
less life was u burden to the ostrich I'M
til he died. IN Y. Sun.