Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-10-01
LEoPARD's TAIL CUT OFF.
Fly Bit 1t, Leopard Scratched il and
Surgeons Operated on it.

Surgeons Operated on it,
The saddest animal in all the Cen
tran Park menagerie is the young Loop
ard. He had eight and a half inches
of his tail amputated last week. and
now he lies on his back grooming, his
scant tail as high up as 1t will go, and
his head stretched out so far that the
hair on the chin and throat stands UP,
showing the white skin beneath.
A few weeks ago this leopard had a
tail that would have been the pride of
wild leopard in the jungles of Africa.
The old leopard seems to realize his
advantage over the youngster ana SO
all day long he PAGES up and down,
lightly swaying his black brush with
swish that makes the young one
sad.
One day when the young leopard
was lying in the outside cage basking
in the sun, its beautiful slender tail
waving a little now and then, little
fly, OF unknown species. came flying
along with buzz. Unnoticed by any
one, it allghted among the long black
hairs on the end Of the young leopard
tail. Suddenly the leopard leaped to
his feet with a catlike grunt and snarl,
and grabbed the bushy end Of the tail
with its teeth. Mr.. Murphy, one of the
keepers, saw the crumpled body of
the fly fall to the floor of the cage
The leopard grew restless, and it treat
al SNf &c tasI WI Afip nd
harshness. Before the arrival of the
fly the leopard had washed its sides,
paws, neck, body and tail with the
utmost care. After the fly was killed
the brute seemed to forget its former
tidiness, and instead OF washing itself
all over, it used its teeth constantly
on the end of its tail The black hairs
came out at first one by one, and
then in little tufts. Last week the
tail had got into a sad condition. The
hair was gone and the skin was torn,
yet the leopard still BIZ its tail say
agely
Meantime the keepers had been
thinking. They more they thought the
more they worried, for the young
leopard is fayorite with them and
the visitors.
Matters came to a crisis day before
yesterday. The quiet young leopard
had become grunting, growing nui /
sance. II disturbed the peace Of it
relatives and the other creatures
Something had 10 be done.
Director Smith looked on while til
Central Park veterinary surgeons,
Coates and Huidekoper, did the work.
A man took rope made slipnoose
in it, and then went before looking
glass to adjust his features. There
Central Park menagerie, and it has
been learned that the man who lassoes
the subject must act and appear as
If nothing unusual was going to hap
pen. The lasso moose was thrown
over the leopards head, whereupon
the beast turned a somersault, kicked
out a well-taloned claw, and the next
instant was over on the other side Of
the cage, Iashing its sore tail One
swing hit the end OF the tail against
the side Of the cage, and the leopard
doubled up TO bite it. Quickly the
lasso was coiled and the leopard found
a rope about its neck and one paw
The next moment the leopard was
lying against the bars of the cage,
working three legs, it's tail and three
fourths OF It's body vigorously Other
nooses were brought into use, and all
four legs were made fast Then the
| leopard roared and squealed and
howled.
The operation was done quickly.
The leopard, as the tall was cut,
howled wofully. its voice dying away
in a moan as the severed piece fell to
the floor. A little piece was cut out
Of the hide that had been peeled down
and was fitted nicely over the end. A
little salye was applied, the ropes
we're loosed and the men jumped
back. The leopard rose slowly to its
/ feet and sought the far side OF the
cage. its head hanging down. Then it
licked its tail as mildly as before the
\ fly came The tail Is healing finely,
but the young leopard lies on its side
or back, clenching its teeth and part
ing its lips. Mr.. Murphy says that
II Is mourning for the lost tail New
York Sun.