The Washington herald., 1914-08-10
.FEMALED Daniel
SOOTHEs BEASTS
Woman Fearlessly Handles
Ferocious Animals in
New York Zoo.
SCRATCHES LIONS EARS
Says She Would Go Into Cages With
out Danger if Keepers Would
Permit Her.

New York. Aug. s.-Persons at the New
York Geological Park for the last few
months have wondered at the strange
influence a young woman, who always
appears gowned In white. seems to have
over the wild animals there. She goes
inside the guard rail about the cages.
feariessly strokes the beasts and talks
to them. Her unquestionable control
over them is what William T. Hornaday.
director. calls uncanny. Although he be-
lieves none OF the animals would harm
her. he has been forced to deny her re-
quest to enter the cages because OF q
stringent rule that forbids any but at
tendants TO go inside the enclosures.
The amateur tanner Of Wild beasts Is
Mrs. Edward Apthorpe Bibby, Of No.
7S West 1S1st street. whose husband was
stock broker with Offices In Wall
Street. He died a month ago.
The animals seem to know Mrs. Bibby
and when she enters the different houses
they go forward to the front Of their
cages. Even the ferocious lion Is sub
dued by her. Mrs. Bibby has auburn
hair and big brown eyes.
Last week Miss Edith H. Tracy, Of the
Camera Club, accompanied Mrs Bibby
to the park and took several pictures as
she stroked a leopard that Paul J. Rainey
presented. and the jaguar Lopaz, which
has killed two mates. At first they OBJ
Jected to the camera and growled, but
Mrs. Bibby talked earnestly to them and
they posed for Miss Tracy.
The lion was next called on and at
first 1t seemed as II he was not inclined
to be pleasant.
-
don't be sulky," said Mrs. Bibby
The lion stood up. completed a toilet.
according to Mrs. Bibby. and walked
over to her. She flattered him. told him
how handsome he looked and paid other
little compliments. He was so elated he
tried to stand On his head.
Hes gentle as a kitten" Mrs. Bibby
as she scratched his ears.
Dashes in Fury.
Keepers stood within the rails to be
ready to, save Mrs. Bibby from injury
II the lion tried to strike her with his
huge paw. He was submissive until the
left the front OF his cage. Then
he dashed up ard down in a rage and
and his roars could be heard for quite a
distance in the park. Mrs. Bibby re-
turned and he was peaceful again.
An orang-outang snatched a straw
from Mrs. Bibby's hapd and tickled her
arm. He Is said to be a dangerous
species.
when I was about eight years old and
lived on the east shore OF the Hudson
River above Germantown I found there
was something about me that appealed TO
wild animals, fish and birds" said Mrs.
Bibhy when askel how she explained her
strange power over them.
Not long after / was surprised to see
snakes wigglinE to ne. During q trip to
the South and California with my hus-
band used to talk to birds OF the for
est and they came TO my feet. One day
we went wading in a pool of water and
saw a school of mInnows dart on as We
approached. My husband told me to re-
main in the water and he would go back
to the shore. He 1ad no sooner stepped
from the water than the school of little
fish returned and swan to the surface Of
the stream. When / walked to the land
they followed, remaining there Until 1
had put on my shoes and hosiery.
My friends tell me am the fifth
known person TO have an unusual infiu-
ence over ferocious animals. They name
81 Francis as the first, a woman in Ger
many, another in India, and Rosa Bon
Eeur, a painter OF animals, the fourth
one. Undoubtedly there are others who
appeal to the beasts, but Mr.. Hornadav
says they have yet 10 appear at the New
York Geological Park"