The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-10-11

Dalton and Ex-Governor CTI tenden,
three of the best campaign, in the
state, will address the people. Spec.
ial trains and reduced rate, will be
given on the railroads. A la num-
Der of bands, uniformed clubs and a
grand fambeau parade and to- chlight
procession and an immense display Of
fireworks will he among the attractive
features of the occasion.
RATS AND RHINocERos.
'snils's" Body Eaton ~ Rats While sssh
In the New York Zoo.
For many years the Central Park
menagerie has been overrun with rats
not the inofiensive household arti.
Gle but tho big bold gray rat that
inhabits the warehouse and the wharf
some Of which are larger than full
grown gray squirrela They came -
soon a. the zoo was established years
ago states the New York World and
after the present carnivora was fin
ished ten years ago they took posses
sion. burrowing deep in the ground
beneath the building like 80 many
rabbita
For . long time after the building
was finished Director Conklin tr cd
every means in his power to get rid of
the pests but had to give up the ioh
They burrowed deeper multiplied
faster than rabbita and now after
years Of undissurbed domesticity. they
number thousands and thousands
The carnivOra has been their camp
Ing ground for 50 long that the wood
work and flooring is honey combed
with their tunneling. Two-inch
planking and portions Of the floor
beams are perforated by thousands Of
circular holes Rats love fresh meat
the sight and smell Of which sets
them crazy. As all the animals In
the carnivora are fed on raw meat
this explains the presence Of the rats
In such great numbera After the
building has been closed for the night
they swarm forth seeking bits Of
meat to eat and bones to gnaw. They
annoy the animals too and some.
times they have been known TO at.
tack the beasts and severely bite
them.
At other times two or three of them
in single night have been crushed
BY Caliph. the hippopotamus who in
going to bed throws himself upon the
hay where the rats take refuge
Keeper Downey relates that there
is one old rat-a female which has to
his knowledge been a resident there
for three years-that is an especial
friend Of Caliph's and often climbs up
on the big fellows back and plays
about his body. Downey for a num-
Der OF months kept an air gun. and
each night he stayed at his post and
popped of hundreds of them. but this
warfare made no impression on their
number.
just previous to the removal Of
Smiles from the ca-nivora to the sle-
plant house it was noticed that she
had been bitten all over her body.
Her ears were nibblcd and scalloped
until they resembled the edges OF old
fashioned pie crust Her legs aud
body were covered with scars and
sores Several mornings the keepers
found dead rats under her body.
One night Keeper Downey set .
watch on the animal She vas sore
and stiff from . oevere attack Of rheu-
matism and could only move with
great difficulty and pain Lying upon
her side sick and feebla she was0 IAN
easy prey TO the blood loving rata
Before Downey had been there ten
no saw q horde Of rats attack
Smiles With . broom he drove them
OF but they returned q moment later
and renewed their attack.
Tor an hour Downey worked with
out making any impression upon them.
Smiles struggled and groaued and
tried TO get upon her feet to fight her
on. They would not 60
however. and Is the keeper could not
remain with her night and day she
was an easy victim for q week or
more Then she began to improve
and as she grew stronger she had the
strength to repel the attacks OF the
ra.a
When she was moved however
she was in such shape that Director
Smith had to use q composition OF
sulphate Of zinc and sugar Of lead
which was rubbed into her running
sores and raw spots Since her removal
her improvement has been marked.
There are no rats In the elephant
house because the animals are oil
hay eaters and there is nothing to
draw them Smiles sore spots are
fast but she looks - much
like Q half and half zebra 40 Q
rhinoceros
When Conklin was q director he
had q sick alligator on his handsome
Of the large ones. Alligators naturally
are sluggish. but when they are sick
they are perfectly helplesa One
when the carnivors was
opened the sick alligator was found