New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-20
A BIG HUNTIN CENTRAL PARK
SHOOTING SQUIRRELS WITH RIFLES

| DESTRUCTIVE WORK OF THE ATTACKING PARTY.
| CLEVER TRICKS OF THE ANIMALS.
| Sleepy hOusemaids along Fifth-ave. were
awakened at daylight yesterday by the reports Of fire.
arms In Central Park. Milkmen ratng wildly overthe
payements paused in their shr whoops to listen The
sun was just making its appearance with jolly red face
back OF Long Island. while the moons sround Disc pad
with the increasing glow in the East, like worpout
pnwheel was trundling down behind the twelvest0ry
apartment house back Of the Park Rife cracks and the
heavier reports from rang from the groves
OF the Park calling out In response occasional or
howl from the wild aumas the Arsenal Light curs
OF white smoke oated up in the clear morning atmos
| phere from the places whence these reports came
Park policemen In their suits could be gliding
among the bushes picking up objects, and other
with firearms moved cautiously along the paths and
over the lawns with their eyes intent every object.
At sunrise and for several hours after Central Park Is
deserted except by policemen and the few early work.
men who pass through 1t their way TO business
Every two three years becomes necessary odesry
some Of the squirrels and rabbits that multiply with
great rapidy and do great injury to the plants and
shrubs This slaughter OF small animals not taken
place for years because formerly the policy
of the Park Commissioners TO employ an expert whose
business 1t down the number OF these small
depredators. On spring days the squirrels
ont in force from their nests and holes, haillng as
choice spring decacy the appearance OF the buds on the
trees. Rabbits have been equally destructive 10 tho
shrubbery but with the upward growth OF the city
have been thinned by the mongrel cats aud
dogs of the neghbOrhood These larger animals have
kept up guerilla warfare the rabbits but the squir
res have been able to bid defiance to their
enemies In their turn the larger animals
have taken the liberty when hungry to carry of the
young ducks Last week one OF them killed
peacock The have felt safe from the OF tho
dog and the cats considered themselves secure
from and boys After the peacock episode Super
and exterminated colony OF ours and cats among tho
rocks in the upper portion OF the Park Hundreds oi
squirrels made their appearance with the nld days Oh
the present week. and President Beekman directed that
a series OF raids should be made on them before the
trees begin to bud Several these incursions were
during the week and the final occasioned the
usade yesterday morning. The services OF several
expert remen obtained. aud with the Park keep
ers and OF Park policemen tour OF the Park
made driving tho game within reach OF tue hunts
men. The experts armed with light rifles carrying
a small twenty-five calibre ball. They looked with con-
tempt at any within hundred yards, dlsdaninS
their fire anything larger than squirrels
head Those who carried hotguns were less particular
After second attack the community OF squirrels ap-
pcared have spread wide the reports Of the danger
threatening them. Every squirrel was or the alert yes
terday morning. Some secreted themselves under the
rocks and could be reached Others buried them
selves at the first sounds OF the attack in the heavy pine
foliage, where the keenest eye wonld overlook them.
gauntlet they bounded over the gronnd, climbed tue
taest and lay motionless like punches OF bark on
still remain mmovable. But as their assailants
began reload, the 'aucy animals would drop from me
trees reckessly dash for secure places HAIR
dozen shots would sometimes be necessary TO as 9is-
lodge squirrel unless one , OF the Smam Iroon rns %
a dozen fat squirrels dashed through the lines
OF the huntsmen the Mall and scattering as they
passed the statues Shakes and Sir Walter Scott
all but three made their escape One lean and astute
every shower OF lead leaning from tree 10 tree un-
harmed. rifeman traced him to the topmost brancn
than his body but the squirrel shifted rapidly around
il that the tip of his remained uncovered his
bushy tail floating out in defiance. Unable to eaten
sight the reman suddenly brought his piece 10 pear on
the limb. The bullet sped and struck tho Dranen op,
out several the air from the concnssion and fell
heavily TO the earth ne was stunned Du not 1esa name a
aud allowed to escape with his weI-earned
liberty Rabbits were dealt with anhg egentIy tbyouSS S
the lines with frightened bounds mongrel yellow cur
of the peacock striped eat, garing savagey from
trunk met the same fate as the squirrels Dut 20.
her wrhug with glaring Dyes and extended claws 70
the ground. -,
shO ting had expired steam whistles were shrckng QUO
in the city, and equestrans who came gailoplng along
men. R0sy-cheekcd young ladies tripping along tho
paths their way to the Normal College looked with
momentary aldrm while the nurses and children VINO
began rhrong the walks gazed with wonder st the
warike array great oIIxet the ra.u tu the raid.
Tho Park policemen who desired carried home meas
for pot pies number remaining carried to the
Arsenal and made savory meal for the animals there
The lions tigers aud eopard toyed with the small warm
bodies as eats play with mice. The hyenas crunched
the bones once and swallowed entire squirrel at
gup. while the King of Birds deliberately tore tue snan
There is still population OF at least 800 fine gray
squirrels Central Park In the early days Oh Cehrat
Park there used several OF quais and par.
trdges The partrdges driven out in few years
and the quails gradually dsappeared several years