Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-22
DEATH OF oTWO ELKS
TRAGEDY ENACTED At THE 200
YESTERDAY.
Huge Animal Stays Young Bull and
test Tia
Dies While Antlers Are Being
d Severed.

A tragedy In the animal world occurred
yesterday afternoon at the National Zoo
logical Park. resulting in the death OF two
members of the finest herd of elks in this
country. The affair was, not without Its
romantic side. either. and II the other ami
NAL residents of the park have system OF
communication. 1t is certainly their chief
topic of conversation today.
About / o'clock yesterday comparative
quiet reigned in the eight-acre elk yard on
the side of the hill across Rock creek, and
all was apparently serene. The bulls ana
cows of the herd. twenty-six in number
were enjoying the afternoon sun and COM
muning among themselves. only now and
then casting furtive chances at the big
champion, who had been manifesting con-
siderable restlessness For two weeks this
one magnificent bull had shown signs OF
an intention to go on the warpath. ana MS
fierce temper was beginning to nave us et-
feet on the younger bloods of the nero
Only the night before the champion haa
waxed unruly and stalked around, giving
forth sharp squeals, which was his method
of challenging to combat any daring riFal
for the affections of the herd
No one in the yard nor any OF the Keep
ers knew exactly how it happened. But
suddenly the champion became ahSered at
a youngSter, aged about eighteen months
five and one-half years his junior, and with
out any warning he raised his mighty
antiers in the afr-four feet long they were
then-and made wild plunge toward the
object of his wrath. Unable OF AFRAID TO
try to defend himself, the latter was pinned
hard against the fence, his side gored and
bleeding. Again and again the monster
rushed him, till he lay dead and badly
mangled on the ground.
The Herd Aroused.
The sight OF blood aroused the herd and
rendered the champions manner hercer
The attention of the keepers was attracted
by the disturbance and they hurried to
the scene. Mr.. w. II. Blackburne, the
head keeper, said the monsters horns
would have to be cut off, else he would
kill another rival before long.
Accordingly ropes were secured. and
force of twelve men went to work to tie
him to a tree with his antlers pinned closely
to the trunk.
AS loops were cast over the fence to draw
him down, the big elk charged fr,riously
toward the men, so that several times 1t
looked as il the fence would be broken
through. At last, however, he was Sc
curely fastened, and one man went to work
with big meat saw to amputate those
great horns. .-
Meanwhile the rest of the herd looked on
in wonder, and. perhaps, in satisfaction, to
see the big bully so Inundated. The cham
pion himself struggled furiously. straining
every muscle to break away. His hercu-
grandest ever before witnessed at the ma
tonal park, it is said. Never had such a
magnificent fight been seen. All was in
vain. however, and slowly the mighty one
became exhausted, and at last, Just as the
second antler fell. to the ground. his head
dropped. and he sunk on his knees.
Dies in the Struggle.
With great care the ropes were removed.
But the champion did not arise. Instead
he rolled over and lay still. He has never
moyed SINCE. HIS fight had killed him.
The head keeper says the antlers of the
big bulls have often to be removed to keep
them from injurjng each other, The dead
monsters antlers had been taken Off be-
fore. Each year the bulls get new horns, in
common with all solid-horned animals, and
so the amputauon does not permanently
mar them. lug , , g
The dead bull MAS lone Of q small herd.
containing five: other bulls and several cows,
received about six years ago from the Vel
lowstones Park, in the, vest. The youngster
whom he Killed was raised in, the local
park. His first antlers were beginning to
FORM
Two days ago there were thirty-one elks
at the park comprising the finest collection
In the United States. as stated. The SUI
perintendent of the Zoo sincerely regrets
having lost two of the best specimens by
the tragedy of yesterday. Several other
males show signs of more than the usual
temper and it is possible that some more
cutting horns will take place soon.