Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-02
HORSE MEAT FOR DINNER.
Scene at the Zoo During the Dinner
Hour of the Lions and Tigers.


From the Phj1adelp6ia Times.
The minute hand on the big dial of the
clock in the lions house in the Geological
Garden stoo0 at 3:15 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon when the various cat animals
got UP and stretched themselves. They
had been lazlly pacing up and down their
cages or taking cat-naps in their outside
cages all morning aud took no interest in
passing events up to this time. After
stretching themselves and yawning to an
extent that almost exposed the roots of
their tails they woke W TO the realization
that it was almost dinner time. 1t is prob
able that a contracted feeling in the
stomach communicated the fact to the
brain that 1t was about feeding time.
The big cats of different species paced
up aud down their cages with constantly
increasing uneasiness. Then there was
"a sound of clashing OF tin pans from the
little room behind the fountain, and the
cats, instead Of pacing, increased their
gait to run from one side OF the cage to
another. Tiger Jim, Second, emitted a
roar, which was echoed by Rose, his pros
pective wife. Then old POmp, the blind
lion. replied, and George and Minnie, the
leonine lovers, joined in the chorus, and
the leOpards, pumas and jaguars piped
the tenor to the bass OF the big brutes of
their own family.
During the din of brute voices Keeper
Shannon appeared with two big buckets,
filed with juicy tender0in, sirloin and
shoulder pieces of horse meat. Begin
ming with the spotted leOpards he tossed
each huge chunk, which they first grab
bed with their paws, then taking it in
their mouth leaped to their board perch,
where they disposed OF the meat to the
last fibre. They try to conceal the bones
for night consumption, but Keeper Shan
non rakes them out with his iron hook.
Old P0mp takes his select piece OF slrloin
with gratefuness and without any VOL
fish demonstration, His teeth are worn
away to the gums and so be gets the
choicest bits, which he disposes of by lick
ing the meat with his rough tongue.
Tiger Jim, Second, 10 savage at feed
ing time, as though he were still in his
native jungies. He receives his great
hunk OF meat from the end of an iron
trident, and Tavenously tears it to pieces
and guIps down huge chunks without
mastication. Rose is almost as bad, al
though she is a little more dainty IN eat
ing her meat after it Is in her possession.
At feeding time they are both treacherous
and would take any advantage they could
of their keeper.
"Jim," said Keeper shannon, "will
come up to me with smiling face, and
then when he thinks am of my guard he
will make a grab at me through the bars.
II Is vicious brute. but | Will soon have
him in hand. | think his circus experience
spoiled him."
The three pumas, or mountain lions, who
occupy one cage, are hard to feed, as they
try to rob each other. One has been sick
recently and 10 imposed upon by the
others. He is sensible enough, however.
10 know that Keeper shannon Is his friend
and when the latter selects a choice NOR
sci the puma comes TO the bars and takes
it from mis- hand. These animals also try
to conceal the bones Tor the purpose Of
gnawing at them at night. The other ami
mails receive their daily meal without
any uHseemly demonstration. They are
grateful for what they get and make no
lick