New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-29
ON THE BISON'S TRAIL
A NEW SPORT IN CENTRAL PARK.
KEEPERS. POLICEMEN AND THE GENERAL pur

KEEPERS POLICEMEN AND THE GENERAL PUB
Lie JOIN IN A LONG AND EXCITING HUNT
One Of the finest specimens OF the American
bison in the Central Park Menagerie escaped yes
;erday morning. roamed for nearly two hours
around the Park and outside OF II, defying every
effort to catch her and swimming through two
lakes until she at last fastened with ropes and
guided back her paddock by nearly fifty police
men. keepers and citizens She hurt one. but
frightened a good many
The buffalo is six years old. She was in the buff
talo paddock in the menagerie grounds. and was
about to be fed this morning when she escaped She
had calf about six weeks ago. and she had since
tina, time refused leave the open ground for the
shed. Consequently. her food had 10 be given TO
Der there.
Philip Holmes. one of the keepers. fed the two
males In one part of the paddock. and then opened
the door to the open ground where the female was
with her calf. She was waiting at the door and
as soon as she saw the door opened she thrust her
self against Holmes knocked him over, walked over
him, but did not hurt him. and into the shed
and out on the driveway.
number of children had seen the buffalo knock
the keeper down and had set up shout. making
the animal somewhat frightened. and when they
followed her as she walked toward the Bride Path
she broke into run At the head Of the Bride
Path is a gate six feet high. The buffalo took this
like a deer. II pretty sight as she leaped II
without seeming 10 rnlnd IL at all, ana she droppeo
into lope she went down the path toward Fifty
ninth-st and Fifth-ave.
The keeper had by this time informed every one
about the Arsenal of the runaway, and Mr.. Snyder
the expert among the keepers. who was coming
down the hill with a sack OF feed, dashed after the
buffalo. But the deceiving lope too fast for
Snyder. who II after time, and he stopped to
get rope and then made off with all the rest
OF the keepers not necessary for the menagerie, a
host OF policemen. two sergeants and Captain Eng
land of the Park police
The buffalo kept on the Bride Path till she got
the entrance at Fifty nnth-st. and Fifth-aver
where she dashed out. She kept on to Eighth-ave..
when she the attractive green again, and she
left the asphalt for the drive. BY this time great
crowd following the buffalo. and when she went
into the Park again there was another crowd 10
receive her. She kept tho West Drive. soaring
bcyclist that he ran inro ,he crowd and wrecked
his wheel. The animal tG~n r~hda little detour
and came out on the sheer green. She seemed 10
like the grazing, and walked &c and out among
the sheep eating grass and ecajoylng herself while
the crowd. which seemed not TO be afraid, gath
cred around and watched the novel sight. The
police came running up, but minute 100 late. The
crowd had not been quiet enough, and their shouts
and cries TO the buffalo and TO one another fright
ened her. and she made off again just some keep
ers up with ropes made into lassoes.
The buffalo came the West Drive again
just young woman driving a spirited team OF
horses came down the drive. The big crowd had
followed after the burao. and as the horses saw
both animal and crowd they tried TO assert them
selves. The woman let the horses go rlght through
me m S past the & wSa S oa no
and the crowd stopped long enough TO give her a
cheer. -. . -.
Mall where she scared several hundred people who
had gathered there. She did not seem 10 want to
If examining places She had never seen before, and
when she had seen enough she wandered over to
the Ramble. with the keepers and policemen ana
crUwd out Of breath following heb Ird0s and rich,
she a big BODY of water and she did not
stop al it, but to the delight of those who had man;
to be there when She came up, she walked right
into the water. She enjoyed It evidently, and swan
while the pqrsuers ran across the bridge, .,,o -
the Park and came out near the Conservatory Lake,
where the children sail their boats The water was
She did not attempt 70 come out for awhile and
suit, and he had the police at this point make TIE the
Sn go saG T Until be bHo had enjoyed ali
the swimming. she wanted and should become
' For wehtg mHaes the bao about She
was not at ali violent or angry and Snyder at last
iasso toward the animal. The first few throws were
oVer her horns s'u rhen half dozen policemen got
hoid o. the rope and forced the buffalo 10 the shore
head. and then more ropes were placed around her
body Fifteen policemen got hold Of the ropes ends
more took hold Of the ends at the rear. while the
keepers and a dozen citizens got hold Of other
Nearly thousand people followed the buffalo
down the drive TO the paddock. When she was
finally showed into the shed she ran out into the
open ground at once, and there was lively scatter
ing among the keepers. one Of them making haste
10 climb the fence.
Superintendent Smith said that as he follow
ing the buffalo the green the Conserva-
tory Lake he a policeman fire off his revolver
the buffalo He says he tried to at this man.
but he disappeared in the big crowd, and he does
him ana II he does Something will drop. as the AMI
nal is valued at 1900 and harning and
was not dangerous. The policeman had no right to
try 10 shoot her.