The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-29
JACK CHoKED no DE1Jn
re was the oldest Lion In Central Pnri
and Had Many EstimabIe Qualities.

Jack, the oldest lion in the Central Park
menagerie. died OF strangulstion In his cage
in the lion house ut 2:3O o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The feeding time for the animals Is ? o'clock.
At that time Jack received his generous por-
ton Of beef and pounced upon II with his
usual i'm patience. He bolted the meat. smack ed
his lips. and glanced through the bars OF his
cage for more That was nothing unusual.
and Keeper Hughey Downey who was stand
ing near by. pretended not to notice him.
Suddenly Jack lowered his big head down
between his forepaws and gave a convulsive
cough. Then Downey turned. He heard an
other cough. and saw instantly that Jack was
choking. lie shouted for Keepers shannon
and sny der who we're on duty outside. and tho
three went to Jacks relief.
a roIe was hurriedly procured. and the
work OF lassoing tho animal began. IL was
not easy. for Jack did not want to be lassoed;
hut they finally ACCOMPLISHED IT.; linen they
and snyder ran his hand down the beasts
cavernOus throat 1t was thought he might
Before anything could be accomplished IL
was seen that Jack was ,gasping. SNYDER
bled moment aiterward the muscles became
rigid and tho great furry head fell back. with
little cry like that Of y kitten Jack tumbled
over. There was momentary spasmodic
twitching Of the muscles, then they became
tonse Jack was dead.
was the ret Of the keepers and the admiration
OF oil visitors, he was magnificent speci;;
men. OF his kind, big, strong llmbed, and
RE In 1886 having been traded for an older
lion named Lincoln and $500 to boot. Ito was
about lB years old. native OF Africa. and in
the prime OF lion life.
Although ,tcrocious at times. his nature was
gentle. and the keepers say he could he even
suave lie would often play with the people
he know well in n clumsy but whole hearted
manner that endeared him TO them. With
IN q n
II was his habit to scare unusually inpuisitive
visitors by rushing up to the bars with the fur
OF his name pulled out and an angry lire In his
eyes.
But the keepers say he idn't mean any
thing when he did that: 1t was only his way OF
showing that ho was tired OF them. He ked
particularly to he scratched along his spine,
and when any one performed for him that
courteous attention he would stand with his
head In the air and purr until II seemed that
the, purring would rasp his throat out. But
with oil these mild attributes he could main
tain his dignity when he thought II necessary.
AZ times like that the Keepers were never Ia
mlllar.
who has made q reputation for herself by eat
ing up hcr cubs upon several occasions. She
has had several filters by Jack but none OF his
progeny survives The keepers gay that he
that he sometimes boxed her ears.
Shortly after Jacks death his body was re-
moved to IN clubhouse and an autopsy per-
formed 1t is likely that he will he fed to the
other animals to-day but his hide will prob.
ably be stuffed and mounted for exhibition at
tho Museum OF Natural History.
Jack was tho favorite subject at the, monag-
erie for the MANY animal painters and photog-
Iaphers who go to tho Park for pictures from
life. Mr. j. s. Church has drawn him in every
possible pose. Most Of the art students from
OF him: and his noble head looks down from
the walls OF many studios.