St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-11
A Washington Lady Aston
ishes the Keeper Of Pets
at the $780,"
By Caressing the Boss Bear
and Showing No Sign of
Fear.
Trial Of a Civil Rights Case
Before the Interstate
Board.
Orders Regarding the Test of
Guns for the New Naval
Vessels.

WASHINGTON, April 1O.-At the
Smithsonian institution one day re-
Gently, while Capt. Weeden, the
keeper in charge, was standing in
front of the bear pit, an elegantly
dressed woman, of apparent refinement,
approached, and after looking through
impulsively: "How l should like to
hug that bear" The captain was aston
lshed, but managed to say: "Well,
there's nothing to prevent it." "But.
how shall l get mp" the visitor asked.
Come with me-" Together thev went
to the door at the side and without
moments hesitation, or even a loss
OF perfect cOmpoSure, the lady followed
her guide into the pit Going boldly
up to the largest bear she patted him
on the head, to the intense astonish-
ment and admiration of the captain,
who remarked: MADAM, you're the
nerviest woman in Washington"
Thinking to test her further, Capt.
Weeden began to edge off toward the
door, but his guest had evidently read
about the traits of wild animals in cap
tiyity. and kept close to the keepers
side, making her exit safely in his com
pany and departing without making
herself known. She ran greater
risk than she was probably aware of,
for had she offered to touch either of
the other animals in the pit, in all
likelihood, not even the captains pres
ence would have been sufficient to pre-
vent her from being roughly dealt with,
if not seriously injured by the lima
tured brutes. There was a tragic
incident a few nights ago in the
building, containing the wild, animal
cages, which has been kept quiet by
those in charge. The pride of the col
lection is a sleek Texas jaguar, Jack
by name. who, although he has been in
captivity since he was only three weeks
old. has not abated one particle of his
great native ferocity. Capt. Weedin
had pair of Scotch terriers, which he
turned loose in the building after
dark. The other night the watch
men were startled by series of
ear-piercing yelps, which soon ceased,
and ware followed by most pitiful
whining. When Capt. Weedin, who ad
been aroused by the racket, reached the
building, he found but one of the dogs.
The other could not be seen. After
searching some time. he discovered its
collar in jacks cage, but not so much
as a hair remained in sight. The
jaguar had caught him as he put his
paws upon the edge of the cage and
pulled him through the space nnder the
lower bar and the floor of the cage, had
literally devoured him, rejecting moth
ing but the metal collar that sur
rounded his neck. Prof. Hornaday
and Capt. Weedin had succeeded in
bringing into fair condition the pan
ther, or mountain lion, sent to the in
stltution from Montana. 1t was caught
in trap when young, and both fore
feet mangled SO that locomotion was
almost impossible. 1t is now about
year old, and, although still crippled,
in its movements, it is able to leap
thirty feet at a single spring. What it
might do if in full possession of its pow
ers in an interesting problem. The
latest addition to the collection
is black-foot weazle from Kan
sas, very rare animal. 1t is sure death
to rats, and, in its search for them, is
able to accommodate itself to the mar
row winding galleries and haunts of the
smallest mice, while in its ordinary con-
dition its body is thicker than that of a
gOOd-SiZed rat.