The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-06
Buffalo Herd at Gage Park Zoo
Chooses New King.
Long Battle That Ended Today
Decided the Title.
ANOTHER ROW At CITY HALL
Commissioners Can't Agree on
Disposal of Joshua.
Death of Famous Bison Caused
by Blood Poison.

In battle royal that began Thurs
day afternoon and did not end until
this morning. Jules, the monster buff
falo bull at the Gage park zoo won
the title OF king of his herd. Jules
defeated two other contestants for the
honor of leader of the Topeka tribe
and today the eight bison at the park
enclosure are recognizing the mighty
Jules as the successor of Old Joshua,
who died Tuesday
After Old Joshua had been de-
throned early this fall in the fight that
was the primary cause of his death
one of the veteran members of the
Hill herd that was brought here as
sumed the leadership of the zoo coll
lection. His prestige was not Ques-
toned until the death of their former
leader and the final battle for su-
premacy began yesterday afternoon.
Today Jules, a beautiful bison speci-
men, only slightly smaller than the in
comparable Joshua, contested the
rights of kingship. Jules did not take
up the matter with the state board OF
canvassers or the Kansas supreme
court. Instead he relied on his Prov
ess and he won the day. Until he dies
or until he is handicapped by old age.
Jules will retain the office he has won.
1t is the way of the buffalo.
Jules promises to assume the repu-
tation of Old Joshua and become one
of the largest animals of his kind in
the world. Joshua was so considered
by animal experts who saw him. For
twenty years he led the herd. Jules
was named after Mayor Billiard.
Row at the City Hal.
The smouldering fire of discomfort
that has been burning at the city hall
with the Big Three (Billard, Miller
and Stotts) and the Little Two (Tandy
and Bone) as fuel has broken out
again. Every time an argument is
started at the city hall these two
forces are lined up against each 9TH
er. This time the death of the IA
nous old buffalo bull, Joshua, has
started a double line of daggers zig
tagging back and forth across the city
hall corridors.
Commissioner Tandy wants the city
to donate the mounted head of Old
Joshua to Commissioner Bone. He
says Bone deserves the head because
he went to the wilds of Michigan in
the dead of winter and headed a band
that captured the Hill herd and
brought them to Topeka. Commits
stoned Stotts who manages the city
parks is against the plan. He wants
the head mounted and placed in the
city hall Stotts says the head is
worth two or three hundred dollars
and the city does not have the right
to donate this to any commissioner.
He believes the head should be pre-
a city exhibition. Joshua was consid-
cred the largest buffalo in captivity
as the circus spieler would say.
1t is known at the city hall that
Stotts. Miller and the mayor will op-
pose the gift to Bone. So that's set
tied.
The death of Old Joshua has been
too. The primary cause was
his defeat as leader Of the herd in the
battle early in the fall and old age.
The direct cause was the blood pois-
oning caused by bullets fired at him
from unknown persons. Several sizes
from shotgun shots to thirty-eights were
found in the animals flesh. Several
animals have been killed at the Gage
zoo in this manner and the city will
investigate.