New-York tribune., 1912-04-08
CHOKES MATE TO DEATH |
Easter Visitors See Thrilling
Struggle Of Central Park Bears
CLUB FAILS TO STOP THEM
Jealousy Over Peanuts starts
Fight-slayer Later Re-
pents Act.

Alice one OF the black bears IN the
Central Park naenagerie. was choked 70
death yesterday morning by her mats
Tom, in the presence OF a large 'Illois
Of Easter visitors 10 the park. Many
women became frightened ana ran away
from the front Of the cage when II was
seen that the bears were IN oeatl
struggle. Despite the efforts OF joseph
Cunningham, one of the attendants VINO
welded a stout bludgeon on the head oi
the male. Tom did not let so once ne
had a throat hold.
For a week or moro the male had
shown a streak Of Jealousy that never
before had cropped out. If Tom Sd"
Alice getting a peanut more than he mad
received he would harass her ana drNe
her about the cage. There were seVera'
minor encounters, in which Alice seemed
10 hold her own, but there was no indl-
cation yesterday, despite the verdict ot
Rudyard Kipling and Mayor Gaynor'
that the female Of the species was mora
deadly than the male.
Alice, a bear smaller than her mate
was summing herself yesterday morning
when the generously inclined Easter
throng gathered in front Of the den.
Tom was reclining on top OF a bowlder'
some distance from his mate, but also
taking in the warm sunshine. The pea
nuts began TO fly into the cage pro-
miscuously, and that was more than
either Alice or her mate could stand, and
they both scurried about the inclosure,
picking them up as eagerly as young
sters would pennies. The ridiculous
strides Of the bears as they ran about
for the peanuts were the cause OF more
Of the hot goobers being tossed In.
Alice ran afoul Of Tom when she tried
10 get two or three Of the peanuts Tom
was bowled over. 4 shout Of laughter
went up from the crowd. Tom did not
look for any more peanuts after that
He was in rage when he got up and
made directly for the other bear
The crowd continued to laugh as II
viewed the animals rolling about thu
cage thinking they were teasing. But
the clashing teeth soon showed that the
struggle was serious. The female was 4
match for the male during the carly
stages Of the fight and managed to get
in some telling blows
Suddenly Tom threw his weight
against Alice and she went down. As
II was then a fight 10 a finish, and the
shouts Of the crowd brought Cunning
ham, the keeper. He went into the cage
with the lighting bears and welded his
club with all his might on Tom. Some
Of the women and children ran away
from the front of the cage Cunning
ham shouted for assistance
Alice was seen 70 relax her hold in a
out Tom let go his hold when he had
finished his antagonist He viewed the
dead bear for a short time and then
sought his den Cunningham and
others removed the body Of the dead
bear without arousng Tom in any way.
Even bears become conscience stricken
When the cold rain OF the afternoon uo.
gan 10 patter down in the bear den u
found Tom restlesslv moving back and
forth and in and out of tho cave IN the
rear Of A. He was looking for his mate.
According 10 Cunningham. who has
charge Of the bears, Alice had given Tom
the cold shoulder lately Up 10 that time
Tom had been most tractahle 'nimsl
and was ful ~ fun