Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-31

From the Philadelphia Telegraph Dec. "a
head keeper Byrne, at the geological gar
den, had thrilling experience one day this
week with the peculiar traits sometimes
evinced by the large hippopotamus. The am.
phibian has large double cage and on one
side his comforts are provided for in a large
waterfront. The habits of the large beast are
SUI ch that he spends great deal more of his
time in the water than he does out of it, much
TO the disgust ofthe gardens patrons. Keeper
byrne noticed this trait, and was much
annoyed by it. He heard visitors remark that
they did not believe there was such thing as
hippopotamus in the garden. The keeper
never had a close acquaintance with the large
beast, although both have their headquarters
in the elephant house. It is not long since
that Mr. Byrne had a thrilling escapade in the
buffalo garden, and the recollection of it is
On the last eventful occasion the keeper raised
one of the iron bars in the hppopotanius' cage,
and climbing in with a stick in hand, proceeded
Vailantiy to investigate the reason why the
animal stayed under the water so much He
crossed narrow plank bridge over the basin
near the wall, and began prodding and splash
ing around with the stick in the search for evil
dences of animal existence beneath. He had
the pleasure of discovering 1t quicker than he
expected, and the opportunity of looking for
the first time in his life down into the horrid
depths of hippopotamus' jaws. The big,
clumsy beast became angered His large head
DOoDed up from the surface of the water at q
point where it effectually cut off Keeper Byrne's
retreat. The keeper saw this in dismay and
what was worse, the large beast was slowly
waddling over towards him, with jaws open
wide.
There was only one avenue of escape left to
the Imprisoned Keeper narrow ,eight-foot
ladder on the wall on the side of the basin, and
1t is said that no science could calculate the
fractional interval of time it took the keeper in
mus did not drop the siege, however. He moved
over towards the ladder, and kept his mouth
open for Mr. Byrne to look into. The keeper
animal In the least His ewes looked with
wicked satisfaction at the frightened keeper
crSnched on the top OF the ladder.
the next cage, where there is small but
naughty African zebra. which has the worst
reputation for kicking In the country. He is
said to be capable of kicking the life out of q
man inside of ten minutes, and the keeper on
the top of the ladder thought twice before
tempting fate in that direction. After calling
for nearly an hour Mr. Byrne attracted the at,
tention of the underkeeper in charge of the'ele-
phant house.
said the head keeper, implOringly dashing
glance at his subordinate, with one eye still ON
the terrible open jaws beneath him.
the keeper.
why don't you get over in the other cagee"
asked the man who had come to the rescue.
why, that Zebras in there-I saw him. said
the keeper on the ladder.
Then the underkeeper made vigorous efforts
bars, but like ali great things it 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 lust
stood there expecting a big dinner, and ii the
head keepers fingers had not been frozen to the
ladder, he might have got 1t.
After the lapse of an hour ahd a half the him
pOpotamus was cOaxed back TO the bars with
tempting mOrsels OF food, and the imprisoned
ean one bis 9re canee OF NE and
more. He has resolved to give the hippOpota-
mus the cold shoulder after this, and will not
again make any attempt to fraternize with him
the same TERMS