New-York tribune., 1907-05-26
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Brooklyn Shears Its Sheep-Won-
derfM Zach Taylor Dead.

Nearly half of wool removed from
the backs of the sheep Of Prospect Park last
week II the temperature that has prevailed
of late continues the animals will have cause
10 feel that Shepherd" Conroy has been over
hasty in reducing them to their simmer cos
tune Brooklyn children m4y yet see their
flock decked ont in blankets borrowed from the
dog fanciers or the Slope There are 10 sheep,
and fifty of them are soon be sold. The
Dorchester ram which brought from Stuy-
vesaut Fishs Tranoty Farm. in New Jersey,
four years ago, is among those scheduled 10 go.
The flock is chiefly made up of Southdowns, and
is the finest in the possession Of the city. The
wool will not be sold in Brooklyn. the pro-
oeeds would have to go TO the sinking fund. 1t
will be disposed If in Manhattan. and the re-
ceipts can then he used for the support Of the
Geological Park.
Prospect Park had q serious loss this spring
!r the death Of Zach Taylor, the children's
friend According % Old Pete. Zach's death
was due 10 pneumonia. One of Old Pete's duties
was the general supervision of Zach. and it is
20 the old man that the writer is indebted for
his information regarding the remarkable little
snimal-for Zach was animal Of sort sell
dom TO be met with in works natural his
tory. Old Pete slowly sweeping the path
leading into the park from the 9th street en-
trance the other morning. when the reporter
wandered by. The old man stopped work and,
leaning on his broom. took another handful Of
tobacco from his pouch and tucked it away in
some hidden recess toward the back Of his
throat.
Good mornin'. sir he said, but his greeting
lacked its accustomed joviaty.
More trouble" asked the reporter.
More trouble returned the old man. shaking
his head: ITS sad, sad world. amt it?"
What's the matter now? Has another COM
rade passed the great divide?'
That's just it. sir
Who is il this time?'
It's Zach Taylor. sir
II has been generally supposed that he died
some time ago" returned the reporter.
1T s NOT him you're Jhinkn Of, sir. No. no;
You ever saw. and the old man drew a large
red handkerchief from his overalls and wiped
mis- eyes. He was the childrens friend sir he
continued They loved him. Many time have
stood here and watched them feed him peanuts
and and candy and stroke his head. for he was as
tame as a kitten and gentle
Oh, he was a SQUIRREL" exclaimed the re-
porter.
tested the old man. There were some as said
that he was a squirrel until they saw him and
tnen they sNvore that he was a rabbit. and when
ne ran along FENCES or climbed trees and sprung
from one to another-hyin' right through the
ar twenty or thirty feet do you mnd-they
called him bat. II is my opinion sir that h.,
was all three He looked Just like a rabbit sir
but he had sharp claws and teeth made for
cracking nuts like squirrel. and the skin grew
between his fore and hind legs so that ne could
sail through the air like a parachute An he
was great beast SIR and the old man wiped
He was great fighter. too." he continued
after pause. And think / know somethin
about fghtin' too. having fought through the
war from the first battle of Bull Run till Lees
surrender, and havin' been wounded so many
times that was IN the hospital half the time
Zach lost his life through his fghtin and he
Fought well and met an honorable though uu-
timely death. / came out here one Inornin'
about three days ago. and IT was cold as winter
IL was the morntn' after the car wreck az Bath
Beach, do you mind sir. Zach was lyin in the
midst Of maybe a dozen of these gray squirrels
mat you see around here. Blood was sprinkled
about everywhere The squirrels was a fear
some sight / right away what II was
Them squirrels were always jealous of him and
kept picl1in at him because he got more atten-
Ton and nuts and things from the children than
they did, and knew that he wouldn't stand for
their ways all the time. though he was a good
natuFed beast.
Zach was Iyin' in the midst OF The SQUIRRELS
every one OF whom dead. but he was alive
couldn't find a scratch on him. but he Law still
and looked at me OF pityfuI out of his off
eye. he was shiyerin like a leaf | suppose
when tne battle was over. he was all covered
With perrpiration and fell with exhaustion. and
p pald wind had G1Ysu him cold. xrcpped