The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-19

Attacked and Nearly Killed a Ma
rauding Negro In Search of Plum
der-Strange Faithfulness of the
King of Birds.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times.
An ostrich Waterman is the latest
trained wonder in Florida. He can be
seen every night making his rounds
through the pens of an ostrich farm
near Jacksonville. About a week ago
this sagacfous bird, which has been
named Napoleon proved his capacity for
the appointment. About eight months
ago the owners of this herd Of ostriches
established the farm at this place. Pre-
Vious to this time and since 1885, when
they made their first importations of
birds into this country, they carried on
their extensive farm in California. At
tracted by the salubrious climate and the
shorter distance to their markets, they
determined upon this step.
When they established their farm at
Jacksonville they added as an especial
attraction specimens Of MANY rare
birds and animals capable of easv do
hock OF over 200 golden and other varie-
ties OF pheasants. In the course of
events this fact became known to the
many colored gentry, and, knowing the
darkys natural characteristic For
chlckln'" the owners feared for their
latest purchases. The pheasants thew
knew would be tempting, because all
olrds look like chickens to coons and
these resembled more than anvthino a1sa
nice, fat. acknowledged roosters. and so
would become doubly tempting Nor
were the fears of the owners groundless
Inc cullod' population rapidly passed
through the stages of hearing. investi-
gazing and finally seeing. At this s+a-e,a
VI the game the owners of the OSTRICH
nero TOOK steps to prevent the loss ot
their property and Napoleon was oa11aa
into requisition.
NAPOLEON PUT ON GUARD
Is weIl-krown fact that among
ostrlches' as among all herds of ami
hlaIs' there is one male always cboson
"S sentry. He patrols the camn e,,o,,,
Httle While giving his cry or noise for
All Well?' This is done tbrouebo,,+
the entire night Moreover, if anvtbina
should alarm this sentry his xnou,1a7oo
VI II Is communicated to his comnanio,,a
III series Of yells as he advances ~
the attack. His uproar awake bia g.,
lows IN the herd and thew folIo., -
support ~ MS
have hoS ein me experience Of those who
10 +t "u hythlhg to do with ostriches
10 =
on the face of the green earth e.-e IeiS
ho'hlhg' and with enormous = ranrti - VI
11G match for anything that 1,o11,S
" men HRnung the ostrich attacks nc ~
pohent with his feet in a series Of 49,
IiIIisllke out terrific forward l,ic,,e ~.
po"er peh1nd these efforts wouId n,a1,',
ng government mule collapse with enI,,y
- "ieH II Is known that the feet thano,
serves are more like an ordinary r,iIrn,,
spike and that Ostriches have haan 49,. Dtlu'
~ SeLlooWel horse, it can be inaoinnd
WHAT chance an unarmed nersop -, =
stand in a fight "ould
Actlhs on this knowledge. the ownArs
determined to leave the farm In oha,.
VI dh ostrlch. and Napoleon was the hir6
S lS'1I LOT the position. Napoleon stands
nearly ten teet high and weighs o,,ar zoo
pounds. This gives him chi ~.
weight and reach, and his COURAGE 49,
temper OF the most highly deveIoned or
oer' MADE him all the more adan+ob1o =
the position of trust During the d.,,-
uIne ne Is violent enough for ordinary
purposes, but at night he seems to taILa
on the character of a demon He Is friand
with no man. Even his keeper George
campbell who has occupied this position
. Tor years, uses a large fork to nrotact
himself whenever occasion necessitates his
entering Napoleons pen,
DARKY'S NARROW ESCAPE
The proof that the manner and oboioa
of guard and guardsman was corrac+I',
made was given one night last week
Shortly before midnight the attendantS
were awakened by the most terrific CO
rles OF noises that have been heard for
years around the vicinity Mingled with
the roars Of Napoleon were the agontz-
ing shrieks Of a human being. The ON
ployes, rushing to the pen, saw the
cause. There, dashing around wildly ,yos
a negro, and at his heels followed Ma
poleon The ostrich would strike and
roar the negro would make a zigzag turn
and YELL In the bright moonlight the
negros face was distorted with the fear
of death. and his cries for help, when he
saw his intended victim, would turn Tho
ston1est hearted cutthroat to mercy. Not
so the bird, who, seeing his prev about
to escape, redoubled his efforts to strike
him.
Finally reaching the fence the negro
made an effort to get over. but the bird,
with final effort, struck him. Had the
bioW caught the negro squarely 1t would
have killed him. Fortunately for him II
was a glancing blow, but 1t was enough.
The ostrich caught him upon the thigh.
ripping 1t open and exposing the bone.
The blood flowed in such streams that II
was feared he would bleed to death. but