New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-11-18
UNCLE SANS BIG ZOO.

Uncle Sam has just decided to institut,
a veritable Noah's Ark of live wild beast,
here in Washington. He is arranging t,
assemble in large reservation northwest
of the city a congress of the animal fami
hes OF the entire world. and pilgrims tc
the nations capital will soon feast eyes
upon the most monstrous geologic treat
man has ever beheld.
The Smithsonian naturalists have been
lately engaged upon repetition of Father
Adams task Of enumerating and classify
ing the species and have succeeded in pro
ducing list Of arms lengths showing
their present geographic distribution
The State, War aud Navy departments are
mailing copies to our diplomatic consular
military and naval representatives in lands
far and near, with instructions that they
negotiate for the capture and transporta-
ton to Washington of as many separate
species rs can be captured. Full instruc
tiOns as to boxing the animals and feed
ing them enroute are being mailed with
the lists. The scheme was conceived by
Secretary Langley of the Smithsonian,
the father OF the nations new 700, with
the practical aid of DR.. Frank Baker, its
superintendent The reservation in which
the new animals will reside is of l66 1-2
acres. Recent improvements have made
it already the most picturesque and eX
tensive geological garden of the world
The great ZOOS of Berlin London and
Paris, the next largest, would cover but
two thirds its area if combined
Africa will contribute most extensively, |
AS emphasized in the official circular be
ing mailed to our fifty representatives
there no other of the earth's grand divi
siOns is 50 rich in animal life. The GO
rilla which is desired more than any
other creature of either hemisphere will
be hunted here, his only haunt His
landing on American soil will be an i'm
portant geologic event. That the gorilla
has never yet been brought to the new
"Oiiu 10 u ioCb NCli hiSu uuhHoNu llc
will be found only along the banks of the
iaboOn river, and within the delta of the
Ogowai, respectively north and south of
he equator, near the Atlantic coast
him here will be dangerous and
lifficult task. He nests in the trees of
he most dense and solitary forest wilds.
Although eagor to escape when first at
acked, he will ferociously defend him
elf with tooth and nail when brought to
,ay. When enraged his hair bristles
rect upon the crown of his head and he
oars like alion. He becomes more and more
erocious with age, and it may be thought
'est to obtain young animal on this
ccount. OF course it will be necessary
o capture him unharmed. A good specimen
viii be the centre of interest in the great
90. Scientists will be eagor to study
i'm, inasmuch rs he is tho most manlike
f manlike apes, and believed by evolu
ionists to be the ancestor Of mankind
lis great similarity to the human was
oted no less than 600 years B. c., when
ldmiral Hanno of Carthage, returning
.om West African expedition, published
is account of certain hairy men and wo- .
len, named Gorillas, who lived in troops
nd fought with stones. Although DR..
avage Of this country gave the scientific
'orld its first accurate accounts of the o
orills, the only captive specimen ever o
rought to the civilized world was exhibit !. !.
1 in Berlin