Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-28
5tlisfellanepns &eadina.
ADEALER IN MENAGERIES.

MlsfeManen11s 8Fad1t1g.
ADEALER IN MENAGERIES.
A New York letter to the Atlanta (Ga.)
Constitution says: One day was walking
down Chatham steeet, New York, when my
steps were arrested by queer sound, proceed
ing from store. It was sort of chipping
tumult, as if all the birds in the world had
met in debating society. had little diff
Guilty in finding the door from whence the
chirped volume Of music issued. 1t was, |
believe, No: 55, handsome front and large
store. I sauntered to the door and looked in
and saw sight that l do not think can be
duplicated in America. On each side of the
store the walls were lined with bird cages,
from top to bottom. The ground work was
of canaries, and there must have been thou
sands of these yellow tufts of fuss and feath-
er. Underneath the swarming tiers of cana
ries were large compartments, in which were
pheasants, cranes, and every rare bird-sacred
or profane-that I ever heard of. On the
higher shelves were smaller song and show
birds, from insane love birds, or whistling finch
es, up to the hoariest and hoarsest Of parrots.
In this wilderness of cages shortish man,
evidently of Teutonic build, was walking leis-
urely. As he saw me he turned and came
forward with that easy, pleasant grace COM
mon to well. bred city men. | saw at glance
that he was of the best type of Germans
hearty, selfpoised, intelligent and cordial.
His face was clear, thoughtful and strong
the face Of man who has sen the world,
has fought it and whipped it. l am thus spe.
cial in describing him because l found him
one Of the most agreeable and entertaining
men ever met, engaged in the most unique
business, and the Napoleon Of his profession.
I don't know how came to know 80 much
Of him so soon, except that he displayed that
engaging frankness that the travelled man
shows to the inquisitive provincial. At any
rate, / discovered after an hours chat that
was talking to Henry Reiche, Of the firm of
Reiche & Bro, dealers in birds and wild ami.
mails. This firm is famous the world over,
and stands without competitors. In the name
of this firm there are organized bands of hunt.
ers in all parts Of Asia and Africa, engaged
in capturing elephants. lions, tigers, ETC., for
shipment to the branch house in Hamburg.
From this point the animals are supplied to
England and the Continent and shipped to
America All wild animals that 6ll the me-
nageries and parks of this continent came
through the brig ght.eyed German with whom
spent that delightful day. His history is
full of interest.
n1S44 or 1S45 Charles and Henry Reiche,
two young Germans, having little less than
the practical education that seems to be natu-
raj to young Germans, were bird peddlers in
New York. They went about from street to
street, selling birds from stands. Their trade
was principally in canaries, which they had
sent over from Germany, where they on ly cost
ten or twelve cents each. They did pretty
fair business up to 1852, when they made
daring stroke that made them fortune and
established the enormous business they now
control At that time California was in the
flush of gold finding Gold was plentiful
there, but luxuries few. There was no trans.
continental road, and the Isthmus route was
tedious and costly. Young Reiche, knowing
that canaries were unknown there, and believ-
ing they would become the rage when once
seen, determined to carry over cargo. He,
therefore, got 5000 of the yellow fellows to-
gether, and, packing them in little cages,
started for the Isthmus. Arriving at Carte
naga, he had his birds carried across the Pan.
anna bay, by natives, and caught ship there
and soon reached San Francisco. He was
late in reaching the ship, and the captain was
about to sail without him, but, seeing his boats
filled with covered boxes, thought it was be-
lated mail matter. When Reiche drew near,
the captain hailed him and asked him what
he had.
Canary Birds" replied Reiche.
Canary birds |" shouted the captain. eff
I'd known it was birds, I'd ha' left you long
ago."
Reicbe's first idea of the flush tide he was
to ride was caught from homesick English
man, who, hearing the whistle of a bullfnch
that had been accidentally put in with the
canaries, offered to pay the expenses of the
entire cargo for that finch. As this amounted
to $283 Reiche saw that he had struck rich
lead, and he put the price of canaries at S25
each. They did become the rage Hotels,
saloons, private residences all must have a
canary. The little yellow birds made craze
like the tulip mania. The price soon went
up to $50, and the cargo was soon sold.
Reiche returned to New York rich man.
About this time the menagerie became an
American institution. The "morap show went
abroad through the land, and there was de-
mand for Asiatic and African animals. For
years Hamburg, in Germany, had been sort
of depot at which such animals were gather
ed by incoming ships from the tropics. Reiche
conceived the idea of establishing a house
there, and supplying it steadily with all sorts
of beasts, to be captured by bands of hunters,
working under his direction in the deserts and
jungles. Up to that time the supply at
Hamburg had been casual, depending on
what sailors or ship captains might bring over.
Mr. Reiche went into Africa and Asia, and
found that his hest method was to depend up
on native hunters, acting under order of their
sheikh and directed by few white men of
courage and address. His system was soon
so organized that his beast depot at Hamburg
became the largest in the world. 1t was sup
piled constantly with all sorts of captures,
from tiny antelopes up to elephants, running
through all the gamut from leopard to rhinoo-
eros. From Hamburg he now supplies the
most of the parks and gardens of Europe, and
ships heavily to America. He imports every