The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-10


His TaiI-SevernI TumOrs Removed
NEW YORK. Aug. 10.-Big Nose. the
13-fOot alligator in the New York ZOOlogi-
cal Park. was successfully operated on by
Dr. Frank II. Miller, of the New York
Geological Society. yesterday for the re-
mOvaI OF TWO large tumOrs from the
fOrefeet. after a struggle lasting almost
an hour between the sauridn and eight
men. Even after Big Nose was strapped
and ropcd until it seemed impossible for
him to move he would give a twist. and
snap would go the ropes. showing that
the enormous strength credited 20 him
was not a myth
The alligator has FOR long time been
troubled with two tUmors as big as ap-
pies, which grew on each Of his forefeet.
Last week he grew enraEed at a smaller
alligator that accidentally trOd on one
Of the sore spots and killed IT, Then il
was decided that the tumors would have
10 come off.
At l p m preparations were begun 70
capture Nose. He was lying half in and
half out Of the water in the alligator tank
al the east end Of the reptile house when
the water was let out. This seemed 70
surprise him He dashed his tail around
and made a noise with his mouth that
sounded like the blowing of Of a safety
valve on a steam engine. The eight at
tendants that had gathered around look
ed a triflc anxious. Four smaller alli-
gators were prodded with long pick in
the hands Of the manager Of the reptile
house r /. Ditmars. who forced them
70 20 up a steep bank at the side Of the
tank watch led to a little platform ar
ranged for them. Then everything was
ready for the capture Of Big Nose
The first step was to slip big bag, or
gunny sack, over the reptiles head. The
bag was put on long pole. and Mr. Dit
mars waited for a favorable opportunity
to drop It over the reptiles head This
soon came. and the bag was securely tied
with ropes. So far everything had been
easy and Big Nose had been dociIe
enough When the attendants attempted
to draw moose over his tail the trouble
began
Big Nose gave his tail a gentle Flip and
the eight attendants who had hold Of the
rope fell over one another. Then the big
alligator grew angry. He twisted and
turned ana Jumped around the tank until
the attendants were almost paulc-Strick-
en- Then the superintendent of the park,
William T. Horuaday. who up to this time
had been q locker on. jumped down into
the tank and grabbed the rope attached
70 Moses tail But the alligator was no
respecter Of persons lie treated the SUI
II,fiutcudeut i'm exactly the same way, and
very soon 5Ir. Horuaday found himself
on his hands and knees in the bottom Of
the tank.
A platform was then brought in and
placed on the floor Of the tank The eight
men stood at one end while Manager Dit
mars stood ~ the other end of the tank.
on the outside. and prodded the alligator
with q pick Then Big Nose made a mis-
take. He pushed himself along. climbed
on the platform. and lay there. just where
they wanted him TO 60
The attendants quickly sluuE ropes
around him and in few minutes had the
alligator. as they thought. bound hard
and fast But ne was not TO be captured
so easily. He strained and struggled un-
I'll he snapped the ropes that bound him
as If they had been threads. but he still
remained on the platform Other and
stronger ropes were sent for and at last.
after nearly an hours fight, the immense
saurian was dashed securely.
Then the platform and the alligator
were lifted up and placed crOssWiSe on
| two boxes so that Dr. Miller. who was TO
pei form the operation. would have plenty
| Of room. This was no easy matter. as the
platform and alligator together weighed
nearly eight hundred pounds
It was found necessary TO ChIoroform
Big Nose. as he kept moving his feet and
prevented DR. Miller from injecting CO.
caine into them. He took three ounces Of
| chIoroform before he suCcumbed-
At go O'Clock the tumors had been re-
moved. The order was then given % I'M
loose the ropes which bound the alliSa-
tor TO the platform. This was almost as
| risky as the tyiiug had been When the
| hag was removed from Big Moses head
| IL was seen that ne had come out Of his
suUUT. and his eyes cleaned wlckedly-
When the last rope was removed Big
Nose stood right up on his feet. a very
unusual thing for an alligator TO do, and
shook himself as a uUg would do after
| having a swim. Then ne walked of the
platform and lay down at one end of the
tank perfectly quiet. Everybody hcayed
| a sigh Of relief when 10 was seen that Big
I Nose had no desire TO cause any more
/ trouble The tank was quickly cleared
and the platform lifted out Then the
water was let in, and in few minutes
The allISatOTS We're swimming around ass
/ If nothing had ever occurred 10 disturb
| their peace and quiet.
| Big Nose is one Of the largest aIliCa-
/ tors ever seen here. He measures thir-
| teen feet i'm length and four feet at his
| widest part He was presented TO the
! New York Geological Society last Sep
/ TENDER. and was originally brought from
| Cocoa. Fla. About two hundred persons
| witnessed the operation in the reptile
| house which yyE1 left omen The rubIIf.