The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-24
RHINOCEROS ATTACKS KEEPER
OLD SMILES or CENTRAL PARK
rs FEELING BETTER NOW.
Recovered From Her rheumatism and Is
Able to Make quick Dash at Biliy
snyder. Vino D0dges Just I'm Tine
KILLED Her Friend TOpsy, the Cat /.

SnyueFp VINO hDOWke0 just III 1hte
Killed Her Friend TOpsy, the { at
Old Smiles, the two-horned rhinoceros
in the Central Park menagerie. made a
dash for Billy Snyder, her keeper, yester-
day, and it was only Snyder's quckness
that saved him. He was cleaning up her
stall at the time and had taken several
bundles OF fresh straw into the place.
Because OF her ugly temper the keeper
has been in the habit of putting a rope
around the animals neck and tying
her to one Of the strong iron stanchions
before he enters the stall He did so yes
terday morning. but she worked the rope
loose and wheeling about as he was shaking
up the straw she let out "houf-f-f'' and
started for the keeper
He had ptchfork in his hands at the
time, but he knew that that weapon would
not stop the rush, 30 he dropped it and
jumped for the IRON barred doorway which
leads to the rear yard.
He did not have time to squeeze through
before the rhinoceros was upon him, 30
he sprang to one side and she banged her
head against the bars. He ran to the OPP
posite side Of the enclosure and got out
there. He had no time to spare. either.
In getting out, for the beast had turned
quickly and made for him again. In her
second rush she killed her friend Topsy,
the black cat that had protected her from
the attacks of rats while she slept. The
cat failed to get out of the way al d old
Smiles stepped on her.
"Geewhttaker' but that was close
shave. I didn't know the old lady was
30 sprv. But I'm better pleased than If
l found a ten-dollar BILL Snvder said
afterward.
He explained that the animals spryness
in getting about showed that she had re-
covered from her rheumatism. Fl ON which
she had been suffering for a long tims.
She was 80 bad a month ago that it was
thought that she could not recover.
She is said to be the only two-horned
rhinoceros in captivity and large offers
have been made for her. but the Park
authorities do not intend to sell her. She
has been O victim of rheumatism for more
than year and various remedies were tried
on her. The disease settled In her knees
and her forelegs were pretty stiff.
A month ago she got worse and would
not eat. She lost about 200 pounds in
weight and though she had about 900
pounds left, the loss OF the 200 caused
anxiety Besides the medicine Snyder
used IMMINENT to which he added macer-
ated bees and wasps which he got from
DR.. Southwick. the Park entomologist,
He applied the llniment three times day
first tying tho animal TO a stanchion. He
would first battle the knees with not water
to make the skin soft and to open the pores
and then rub In the liniment.
Smiles would give little squeal when
he touched the tender spots, but after a
few applications she seemed to know that
the operation would give her comfort and
she would hobble over to the stanchion TO
be tied when Snyder called her
Either the liniment or the medi
cine checked tho disease and caused it to
subside Her keeper rubs tho whole sur
face Of her body with neatsfoot oil every
two weeks. She has stopped losing flesh
and has recovered her appetite as well as
her pugnacity. She takes for breakfast
five loaves Of bread and at o'clock in
the afternoon pail of oats and bran mash,
and eats hay and grass between meals,
Il must get another cat for her. l know
she'll feel lonesome for Topsy The two
were great friends, and I'll bet the old lady
would be mighty sorry if she knew what
she'd done, said her keeper