New-York tribune., 1911-12-01
NARROW ESCAPE FROM
MAD PARK BUFFALO
WheeIbarrOW Barely Saved
Keepers Life When Bison
Charged at Him.
HOLIDAY CROWD IN PANIC
Grotesquely CARRIED Hoodlums
Said to Have Frightened
Vicious Leader of the
Park Herd.

a wooden Wheel barrow saved the lie
Of Robert Hoey, keeper OF the buffaloes
IN the Central Park menagerie, yester-
day. The barrow was smashed to pieces
when Tobey. the leader of the herd.
plunged into 1t in an attempt TO get at
the keeper, who in the general miX-up
escaped to the feed house with pain
fully lacerated right hand, caused by a
nying piece of the barrow.
It was near noon when Hoey entered
the buffalo paddock with the barrow
fun Of feed Many persons were clus-
tered outside the fence. Half dozen
or more "ragamufins' were noticed in
the crowd. and it was later believed the
'ragamufins" were responsible for the
sudden outbreak of Tobey.
Hoey always carries a long whip with
him when he enters the paddock. Often
he has TO snap it in the faces of tie
bulls when they are surly. But yester-
day. as he advanced into the inclosure,
Tobey curled his tail above his back
and came on the dead run for the
keeper. There was much excitement in
the crowd outside as the bull advanced
on the keeper Hoey stood his ground
and piled his whip at the buffalo with
such good effect that the wild-eyed ami
NAL was held OF for moment or two
Stepping back d few feet, the keeper
made what he thought was a last lash
at Tobey. and the long whip curled
about the animals horns. The keeper
intended popping it over his head. AS
if camo afoul Of the horns the bun
reared UP and snapped the whip from
! the handle. Hoey had no time to escape
to the feed house before the buffalo was
on him.
AS Tobey charged Hoey jumped be-
hind the barrow. The bull hit II
squarely and smashed it to pieces. Hoey
slipped and fell on the muddy ground
while lodging the flying pieces, and
there came a groan from the crowd out
side. which expected to see the keeper
gored.
But Tobey had not freed himself from
the wheel Of the barrow and the whip
wound round his horns before Hoey
| leaped up and ran for the iced house.
He made it. The bull, though, followed
him closely Then the door was slammed
| to and the bolt shot in its place.
| Hooy waited for the plunge from the
infurlated bull, and # came. The house
shook as Tobey's head hit the door
squa-ely, but it stood the shock. The
door Of the house was made strong for
just such an emergency.
The buffalo smashed up a number or
buckets and other things in its incios-
ure before it Gained down any. In the
meantime Hoey was bandaglng up his
hand. which was bleeding profusely'
For the remainder of the day the buffalo
herd gave the big bull a clear field
During the excitement raga-
muffins" left the menagerie premises
This was another link in the chain
forged by the keeper to connect them
with the sudden onslaught of Tobey. II
NAV have been a sudden pin prick that
started the trouble, but 1t seemed more
nlausible that pepper had been thrown
inside the fence where Tobey is wont
70 sniff about. Thoughtless youngsters
have played such cruel pranks before
Of 400" inmates, and it was almost
conclusive that pepper or snuff caused
the trouble yesterday.