El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-28
PARK DEER DIED
Of INDIGESTION
Former Park Custodian and
Veterinarian Explains Dis
appearance of Animals.


been solved. They died Of acuate indl-
gestiOn.
Grandpa Vaughan's heart is just as
heavy, for he raised the deer at his
home in Moctezuma. Mex, and he loved
them almost like children. But his fear
f. that the park pets had been oarbecued
has been allayed by the statements OF
the former park custodian, former city
veterinarian and other former officials
and employees of the city.
Teddy the large deer, and the two
smaller deer were presented TO the city
by Mr. and Mrs j. H. Vaughan, VINO
formerly lived at Moctezuma station,
on the Mexican Central railroad below
Juarez, where they were known as
Don Juan" and "DOna Abbie' TO the
natives Of the northern Chihuahua
country Teddy was born there on
September Z, 1901. and was fine. big
outstanding fellow when he was brought
To FL PasO and placed in the deer park
at Washington park
Born in Mexico.
The two smaller deer were born on
August %, 1903, and August -, 1905
They were so gentle that they would
caress their master and mistress like
children, and Don Juan" delights TO
tell Of how they would caress his long
white beard, his hair and face and then
back off to view the results of his toilet
making in the proper perspective like
an affectionate child.
He was offered $50 for the deer by
Cruz Gonzales, who swns the ranch in
which Lake GuZman is located. and who
wished to place them on an island in
this northern Chihuahua lake. But
Mr.. and Mrs Vaughan wished TO have
the deer near them while they were
making their home in FL Paso and
where their grandchildren and the chill
dren Of the city might see them and
pet them Grandpa" Vaughan admit
ted that he and grandma also liked
TO go TO the park and give the deer
loo
to do in the old days before the revo-
luton. when they were so happy in
their MOctezuma home with its vines
and trees and deer park.
Investigation sIarfed.
When the three deer were missed
from the park, Mr.. Vaughan was so
distressed that he started an investiga-
ton TO learn what had become Of them
{. F. Sheppard, the new custodian OF
the park, informed him that the hides
Of two Of the deer had been found
in the feed house Of the animal park
and the third in the flower house in
another part Of the park. This further
alarmed Mr.. Vaughan, who, fearing
that his pets had been slaughtered. con-
lnued his investigation and appealed
TO the public. through The Herald, to
assist him in the investigation.
Hides Are Found.
An Investigation at Washington park
thursday afternoon by The herald
showed that the three larger deer
were missing. and only the two small
fawns and the big elk remained in
the park Mr.. Sheppard the new park
custodian SAYS he knows nothing OF
the disappearance OF the deer except
that the hides were found after he took
charge No report was made TO me on
their death when the park was taken
over said Mr.. Sheppard
George Trout, former custodian OF
the park. who still lives in one Of the
park buildings. was the first TO throw
any light on the mystery Of the three
deer There was an epidemic which
seemed TO affect all Of the animals sew
eral months ago, and IL even affected |
the swan said MI Trout The two I
small deer died first and the big one
was the last TO die The elk came
here after the epidemic and We're NOT
troubled with it. ] reported il to DR..
higgins. who was the city veterinarian
a the time. and he can probably give a
more accurate description of the
trouble"
Two Died OF Indigestion.
DR.. R. y. Higgins, veterinary sur
geon' who was formerly in charge OF
the city's animals. said Thursday thar
two deer died from acute Indigestion
and ne did not remember distinctly
about the third 1T was several months
ago., said Dr. Higgins The condition
or the deer was reported 10 me BY
alderman ". :. Clayton, VINO was then
in charge Of the parks. John Connors
sick / treated them for acute indiges-
ton, but two Of them died soon after
] do not remember about a third deer.
one Of those l treated was a large deer.
as remember it."
City Is Investigating.
Inc present city administration is
also making an investigation of the
disappearance Of the park deer.
No report has been made 70 me
yet said mayor Tom Lea The deer /
were not included in the list Of ami
mails delivered 10 us when we took
0IIlce- However. alderman John ".
lsher is now making an Investigation
OF the whole affair and 1 expect a re-
port from him soon"
Alderman Fisher said Thursday
morning: Il cannot say anything yet. as Z
l nave Just started the Investigation I
But 1 am going to find out all about
the matter before / am through with (
Il 1t was reported to me that the deer {
mad died. but ! know no more than
mat yet although 1 expect to get I
10 the bottom OF the affair soon
Mountain Lion Killed.
Inc deer We're not the only animals /
missing from the park A female I
mountain lion, which was Gagged with I
It's mate in the animal section Of the !
park, was killed soon after the deer I
died, the park employees say. Accord {
ing 10 these men, the male killed the 4
female, this being the only time an
animal has been known to kill its
mate. they say One Of the park en-
ployes suggested that the female was
killed because she was too overbearing
as they say she took charge of the
cage and made the male do her bidding
IN everything until the worm turned.
There are two small fawns in the
deer park and they look lonely there
with none of their kind nearer than
the elk park adjoining. These elk
VIII nave nothing to do with the little
lawns and they hover in the shade of I
the feed house where the hides of the .
Two larger deer were found
Inc deer are missed by the hundreds
OF children who went to the park on .
sundays, as they were pets Of all the
children and would come to the wire !
fence and poke their soft noses through I
10 be petted and fed upon apples.
DEMOCRATIC CLUB TO afEET.
The County and CITY Democratic club I