The Washington herald., 1907-05-27
ZOOS SEAL ESCAPES
Merry Hunt iii Rock Creek
Follows Departure.
GIVES PURsUERs LONG CHASE
Director Baker and Score of Assist
ants work with Nets, Boxes, and
Other Implements Until Capture Is
Finally Efected-JnnbIe TO Ex-
plain How Animal Got Out.

CONSERVATION relgned as the sun rose at
the Zoo yesterday morning when Head
Keeper Blackburn discovered that one of
the sea lions had disappeared. 1t was
hard for the head keeper 70 believe his
eyes as he surveyed the iron bars about
the pool and noticed the height of the
picket fence, with its sharp protruding
points, but the most careful investigation
did not reveal any traces OF tho animal
He Immediately sent in an alarm, which
soon brought every one connected with
the Zoo TO the empty cage. But the timid.
peaceful pet, whose best trick was 10
bask in the sunshine during the days and
bark like dog when the stars came out,
was gone. Only the night before he had
made the air hideous with his whines for
he and his mate. just arrived from Den
YER had been cruelty separated.
Keepers fondled him and fed him and
spoke to him commandingly. but the slen-
der, trembling creature groaned and wept
the night through, causing his masters TO
spend hours Of ftful slumber Toward
morning tho barking ceased. and with the
quiet came the head keepers investigation
and discovery.
DIR. Baker Directs search.
When Dr. Baker, the director Of the
Zoo, arrived at the empty pool he immc-
diately took command OF the searching
party. A thorough search Of the under
brush and the animal sheds was fruitless.
Then, clad in slickers and waistboots, and
armed with every modern appurtenance
for animal batting the party started 20
wade down Rock Creek Meanwhile a
man was sent TO watch the outlet into
the river and 10 stretch q net across the
channel The thought Of an Alaskan
sea lion in the peaceful waters Of the
Potomac was not comfortable one.
a telephone message informed the direc-
tor that a strange animal with the face
and voice Of a dog. with webbed feet and
five toes, with an elongated body and shiny
skin. was swallowing stones near the p
street bridge. The description was unnec-
essary, and, rushing madly the searchers
tumbled down the bank. and with hurried
pace set of in the direction indicated
AS they turned the bend IN the creek a
shout Of triumph sounded. for the seal.
quietly chewing a small rock, sat. digni-
fed and cOmplacent on a piece Of sewer
pipe, with the only ray Of sunshine trat
fltered through the trees warming the
small Of his back At the approach Of
the party he seemed untroubled, and IL
was only when an overeager keeper came
near enough % touch him that he gided
OF and swan, first on his back and then
Ola his side, into the deeper water.
Form Plan of Campaign.
A conference was called, and while the
seaIchers grouped together and stra-
tegicaIly arranged their tactics, the spor-
tive animal frolicked in a way that did not
indicate any anger at being thus dis
turhed The deliberations ended. each
member of the party, which numbered
twenty. stationed himself at different
parts OF the stream and began 10 form
a narrowing circle.
Suddenly they stopped and DR.. Baker
took 10 the bank with a tempting m0rseI
Of food in his hand. The bait appeared
to work. and the seal swan slowly toward
him. while his woGd-be captors. armed
with nets and boxes and ropes. gradually
closed in on him. But the seal looked
before he leaped. and. looking. saw the
trap. Then. with a squirm. he was free
again. a victory which he signalized by
emitting a few short barks and tapping
his tail enough % douse water into the
eyes Of HIS prosecutors.
BY this time a thousand spectators had
gathered on the p street bridge and on
the banks Of the creek; little boys. whose
parting instructions from their parents
were to drop their pennies in the con-
tribution box put the money in their
pockets and Joined the oniookers; silk
gOwned women leaned far over the rail
and sympathized aUdibly with the sea
lion. whose coat many Of them envied:
staid citizens, usually the acme of re-
spectabiHty, forgot their Sabbath duties
and shouted instructions 20 the keepers:
the keepers themselves began 70 get red
faced and angry.
Upsets the Doctor.
But the seal walked right in and turned
around and walked right out again He
darted TO one bank and was of in a flash
TO the other; he cavOrted between the
huge fishing nets and gracefully avoided
the boxes; he tripped Dr. Baker, who sat
down in the stream like a fat lady with
market basket, and he squeezed through
Keeper Blackburn's legs as would the
festive creased pig.
The Zoo people gnashed their teeth and
made huge dents in the water with their
nets.
The crowd laughed uproariously, waxed
faCetious. and forgot their dinners, while
the seal diliied here and dallied there, and