The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
A HippopOtamus in the Zoo Tries to Have
an Extra Christmas Dinner.

Hippop0tamus in the Zoo Tries to Have
an Extra Christmas Dinner.
PHILADELPHIA Special.
Head-keeper Byrne at the Geological Garden,
had q thrilling experience yesterday with one of
his pets-the large hippopotamus. The animal
has large double cage, and on side his COM
forts provided for IN q large water font. The
.habits of the large beast such that he spends
great deal more Of his time in the water than
he does out of it, much to the disgust of the
gardens patrons The keeper raised one of the
iron bars in the appropriateness cage, and.
climbing in, with stick in hand, pro-
ceeded valiautlv to investigate the reason
why the animal stayed under the water much.
He crossed a narrow plank bridge over the basin
near the wall, and began prcdding and splash
ing around with the stick in the search for evil
dences OF animal existence beneath. He had
the pleasure of discovering it quicker than he
expected, and the opportunity of looking, for
the first time in his life, down into the horrid
depths Of hippopotamns's jaws. The big clum
Sy beast became angered His large head
bobbed up from the surface Of the water at a
point where it effectualy cut off Keeper Byrnes'
retreat. The keeper saw this with disnay and
what was worse, the large beast was slowly
waddling over toward him, with jaws open
wide There was only one avenue of escapeleft
to the imprisoned keeper-a narrow eightfoot
ladder on the wall on the side Of the basn-aud
it is said that science could calculate the
fractional interval of time It took the keeper in
his terror to mount to the top
The hippopotamus did not drop the siege, how
ever. He moved over toward the ladder and
kept his mouth open for Mr.. Byrne to look into
The keeper called Justify for help, which did not
disturb the animal in the least His eyes looked
with wicked satisfaction at the frightened keeper
crouched on the top of the ladder Mr. Byrne
looked hopefully over the wall into the next
cage, where there is small but naughty Afr-
can zebra, which has the worst reputation for
kicking in the country. lie is said to be capable
of kicking the life out of man inside OF ten min
utes, and the keeper the top of the ladder
thought twice before tempting fate in that di-
reetion. After calling for nearly an hour Mr.
Byrne attracted the attention of the under keeper
in charge of the elephant house
Say get me out of this, won't you pleaseg
said the head keeper. imploringly, dashing a
glance at his subordinate. with one eye Still on
the terrible open jaws beneath him. Gal him
away, quick, won't your repeated the keeper.
"Why don't you get over in the other cage?'
asked the man who had come to the rescue
"Why, that zebra's in there-I saw him." said
the keeper ON the ladder.
Then the under-keeper made vigorous efforts
to coax the hippopotamns over toward the bars,
but ii required great argument to move him.
Mr. Byrne tried to scare him away by making
faces and shouting at him. but the animal
wouldn't scare He just stood there expecting
big dinner, and if the head-keeper's fingers had
not been frozen to the ladder he might have
got it.
After the lapse of an hour and half the hip
popotamus was coaxed back to the bars with
tempting morsels Of food, ard the imprisoned
keeper was given one more chance Of life and a
prospect of eating his Christmas turkey once
more. He has resolved to give the hlppopota-
mus the cold shoulder after this, and will not
again make any attempt to fraternize with him.