The Washington times., 1904-05-16
COYOTE ATTACKS
KEEPER EDWARDS
IN NATIONAL zoo
Desperate Fight Between
Enraged Animal and
the Man.
ARMS BADLY LACERATED
Brute Beaten Off by Club in
Hands of Attendant Run
ming to Rescue.
ARMS BADLY LACERATED

Arthur Edwards, one of the keepers
at the Zoo, was so badly torn about the
hands and arms by big coyote yester-
day that he will lose one finger and be
deprived of the use of both arms for
several weeks to come.
The coyote that attacked Edwards is
one OF those presented to the Zoo by ].
r. Eddy. the landscape gardener. He
was brought from the Indian Territory
with his mate when pup and Edwards
has had the care of him ever since
Notwithstanding this. the coyote has
shown all the treachery of his tribe and
has been bad" always. In February he
attacked Edwards. but was beaten off
before he could do any harm Head
keeper Blackburn, ii is understood. has
known the vile disposition of the animal,
but when the case was reported to Sup
erintendent Baker yesterday he ex-
pressed surprise
Fight for His Life.
The fight between Edwards and the
coyote, which Is an unusually large one.
occurred at u O'Clock yesterday. when
Edwards was cleaning out the inclosure
in which the animal lives. The attend
ants have TO go into the cages alone
and lock the door behind them. and
when they are In with a bad animal
they take particular care that their
backs are never turned to it. Yester-
day. as Edwards was backing out. hav-
ing put the Enclosure in order. the coy
ote sprang at his throat with a snarl
of rage. The keeper threw him back
but with all the quickness OF his kind
the animal was on him again before he
had time 70 unlock the door and get
He missed the throat hold he was
trytng for, but Edwards was knocked
down By the force OF the brute's at
tack Seeing that the animal would ger
at his throat IN another second. Ed
wards attempted to stall him on bv
srasping his neck. preferring 10 have his
hands and arms torn TO letting the
VOLTS teeth sink in his throat.
The Ruse Succeeded.
His ruse. costly as IL was, succeeded.
The coyote fastened on his right hand
and with one snap of his steeI-Iike laws
crunched every bone in it, Letting the
hand so he grasped the forearm. Coyotes
are all snappers, and do not hold their
grip as bull dog would Up and down
Edwards right arm the enraged brute
went. as long as Edwards retained
power enough in II to keep it in front of
his throat. for which the coyote was
working hard
Finding the strength gone from mis-
right arm. Edwards put forward his
left from which. in the twinkIing of
an eye. the ligaments were torn horrl-
bly,. Fighting as he was for his very
life. the keeper was no match for the
brute on top of him. He was afraid
to move his hand to try TO get uD
knowing instinctively that il would give
the coyote the chance at his throat
While they We're still on the ground the
coyote worrying the man 10 death an
other keeper ran to the rescue. With a
club he beat the coyote OF. pounding
him almost into insensibility before he
could make him let go his grip for the
coyote. coward as he IS under ordinary
circumstances, is as desperate as A
cornered rat when fully aroused. The
keeper then dragged Edwards from the
incloSure.
Edwards Taken Home.
The wounded man was taken 10 his
home in Tenleytown. Upon examina-
ton IT was found that his right hand
and arm were badly torn. The little
finger will be amputated. The left hand
was also mashed, and the ligaments of
the left arm torn out of place II will
be some time before he can return 10
his duties
This morning the coyote was lying
quietly In the sun, taking matters easily
Every now and then his treacherous vel
low eyes frightened into a malignant
glow as they rested upon passing Visi-
tors. Headkeeper Blackburn is away ar
present. and what disposition he VIII
make Of the vicious brute upon his re-
turn is not known.