Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-25
RAGE QUITE HUMAN
Attack Upon Keeper by Two
Enraged Monkeys.
ANGERED BY HIS TAUNTS
Mike and Jesse" in New York
Zoo. Administer Punishment
Something Fierce"

said Head Keeper Snyder, addressing
Patrick Kennan, the veteran keeper of
the monkey house in the Central Park
Zoo, they will get you yet
By they" he meant Mike, q three-foot-
tall monkey, a formidable-looking animal
with bad temper. and Jesse, a smaller
monkey with the same sort of dispo-
SitiOn. Several weeks ago Snyder warned
the keeper. who laughed and said he
guessed there was no danger. Two days
ago the monkeys attacked him, and it
took the assistance Of another keeper
to rescue him from the pair. His coat
was torn in half dozen places, his face
was scratched and his feelings were
hurt.
Mike occupies a cage on the south side
of the monkey house, and this backs up
almost against the cage which confines
Jesse. Between the line of cages is a
narrow passageway used by the keeper
to clean the cages and feed his charges.
The way is so narrow it is only
when one walks in the middle and exer-
ciSes care that there is freedom from
the touch of the monkeys, who thrust
out long arms through the bars of their
cages as KEENAN, passes. He often car
ries an apple or banana, and his sim
ian friends know it.
Dean of the Zoo.
Mike is the oldest monkey in the Zoo.
having been there eighteen years. In the
long ago he was very fond Of KEENAN,
and liked to have the keeper pet him.
That, however. was years ago. Snyder
says Mike is quite human. He is over
sensitive and it was because of this
Sensitiveness that he fell out with Ken
nan.
KEENAN, discovered that Mike did not
like people making faces at him. SO the
keeper used to offer the simian a piece
OF fruit, and as he put out paw for 1t
KEENAN, would draw back quickly and
stick out his tongue at him. This en-
ragged Mike. and he would jump up and
shake the bars of his cage and chatter
like mad. Soon Mikes liking for the
keeper changed to hate. With Jesse it
was different She is comparative
newcomer, and just took a dislike to
the keeper.
Snyder is convinced that the attack
monkey plot between the pair. He holds
to the opinion that monkeys talk to
one another, no matter what science has
to say on the subject He believes the
two just got together and talked 1t
over The only evidence he possesses
is that one day he came into the
monkey house and found the two chat
tering across the passageway.
Silence a Bad Omen.
When KEENAN, went down between the
cages he noticed that Mike was very
quiet, and Jess against the bars, both
apparently waiting for something.
Hello, jesse" said KEENAN,. Jesse
jumped along the side of the bars, and
with an angry Snarl shot out long
arm. 1t was so unexpected and done
with such SuddenneSS that the Keeper
IinvoIuntarily jumped back. This brought
him near Mikes cage. and in a second
that animal had leaped the length OF
his Enclosure and grabbed the keeper
by the sleeve, with Il cry which snyder
Iafterward interpreted to mean, Il got
him, Jesse" for Jesse, raging about in
his cage and shaking the bars stopped
and sat down to watch
Mike chung to the keepers sleeve with
such strength that the arm was forced
close against the bars. me mohhet
with his claws tried to rip the coat
from the keepers back, and i'll this he
was fairly successful 1t was evidently
the intention of the monkey TO get
Remnants arm into the cage So strong
was the pull on it that the bars alone
stonned the animal from drawing il
into the cage.
KEENAN, held his head as far from the
monkey as he could but twice the am
NAL raked the side of his head ana race
and again Mike tried to bring his teeli
into action The animal had r1ppeo
Remnants coat up the back and torn IL
in half a dozen places, and was sun az
it when another keeper, attracted by the
cOmmOtion, ran to the rescue.
Admits Mike ''Got Him."
We'll, Mike got me-. was Nennan
brief report to Snyder. The keeper was
working in the narrow passageway be-
tween the cages when Snyder entered
Yesterday with some friends. Mike was
chattering and evidently much displeasec
at his keepers presence.
"You hear him?" said the truthful
Snyder. HE is telling Jesse that they
will finish the job some time"
Beauty, the specialized bear in the
Bronx Zoo. is the only animal in the
large collection which has house by
himself When winter came it was de
cided not to take the bear inside. 81
| Charley Snyder-no relative of Contra
! Park Billy Snyder-had house built
around the animals cage. The interior
| was divided into two rooms and par
Ior The parlor has glass front, so tina
| the visitors can get a sight OF the bea
when he comes to the front. Beauty
| came from South America, and the lon:
continued damp weather has had ba'