The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-03-17
CITY MAY Get
2 TAME DEER
TO START zoo
r. B. Dobson Will Begin
Negotiations For Mayor
Rage with Kennett Owner.
KAGE SAYS CITY CAN
ACCEPT WITHIN A WEEK
Collection of Other Animals For
Zoo Family Will Start
Soon.

Two deer, a buck and 4 doe, each
about two years old, will be obtained
as the initial animals to take their
places in the proposed City Zoo at
Fairgrounds Park, if negotiations
which r. B. Dobson will conduct for
Mayor Rage are successful.
Mr.. Dobson, VINO is travelling sales
man for 4 St. Louis stationery firm,
informed the Mayor yesterday Of the
possibility of starting the zoo with the
two deer. They are the property at
present of Drew Bardell of kennett,
county collector Of Dunklin county.
Mr.. Bardell has raised the animals
from their fawn days and has trained
them so that they are docile and, Mr..
Dobson says, will make ideal animals
for the city zoo.
Someone Of Mr.. Bardcll's friends
caught them when young and present
ed them to him. Mr.. Dobson said last
night. As they grew older and larger,
Mr.. Bardell moved them to an enclos-
ure within the race track at the fair
grounds in Kennett.
No arrangement ever has been made
in Kennett for the public to take care
of the animals and Mr.. Bardell has
been required to make daily trips to
the deer park in the fairgrounds to
feed the animals and see that they are
receiving proper treatment.
A few days ago, Mr.. Dobson said
Mr.. Bardell remarked that he was
thinking of dispo=ing of the animals.
/ He said that he wanted to give the
two animals to some city or institu-
ton that would Re prepared to handle
them properly.
At that time lie did not know who
would be willing to accept the gift.
When Mr. D0bson returned to the Cape
from his business trip through the
lower counties, he mentioned the gift
of two deer to friend and immediate
ly it was suggested that the Cape Zoe
would need them.
Mr.. DobsOn then drove TO Mayor
kage's Office and asked the Mayor if
the Cape will accept the animals as q
gift from Mr.. Bardell, if the ncgotia-
tiOns may be closed.
The Mayor announced that the city
will be glad to start the zoo with the
deer and he declared that he will see
to it personally that every provision
is made at once for the reception of
the animals.
eve have material enough to pro-
vide temporary enclosure at once,
We get the animals soon," the Mayor
said. 81 can have n fence built in the
park within less than week if the
deer are given to the Cape.
81 think that we could start the zoo
in no better way than to lead off with
the deer.
"From what l am told about this
couple, the city would especially do
well to get them in our park, for the
doe, l am told, will present a fawn
within a few weeks"
Mr.. Dobson last night said that
since his conversation with Mr.. Bar
dell, the latter made trip to Quincy, |
Ill.,, and it is possible that he may have |
disposed of his animals while away on
the trip.
Mr.. Dobson expects to write him a
letter this morning requesting that the
deer be turned over to Cape Girar-
deau, if Mr. Bardell still wishes to dis
pose of them.
Mr.. Dobson last night declared that
he is confident that he will be able to
obtain several other specimens of ami
mails and birds indigenous to this sec
lion of the state for the zoo.
Probate Judge Martin of Charles
ton, who for many years has had
hobby of collecting birds that ar
rarity in this part of Missouri and at
the same time indigenous, sometime
ago told Mr.. Dobson that his collec-
ton is becoming so large he has about
decided to dispose of some of them.
In Judge Martins collection there is
an eagle and several freak owls. One
is a monkey-faced owl, Mr.. Dobson
said. The judge has kept them and
cared for them at his home.
Mayor Rage last night declared that
may be made within a
short time for the reception of birds
and such small animals that may be
put in the cages already in the park, {
where the poultry show formerly has
been held.
Within a few more days the Council
expects to name man to be the GUS
.odian of the park and it will be one