Wild-animal celebrities

Front matter

WILD-ANIMAL alaaafiUK

.'■lll'S

Class.

Chap. VII. Famous Chimpanzees. Polly, Soko, August, Sally, Consul, Kruger .... 127

Chap.

Chap.

VIII. Two Bison.

Black Beauty, Montana

IX. A Few Hoofed Animals.

Reno, Elk; Duke, Eland; Jack, Donkey 155

Chap. X. Three Great Birds.

George and Martha Washington, Ostriches; General, Condor 177

Chap. XI. Ponderous Reptiles.

Old Mose and Number Two, Alligators; Buster, Tortoise 199

Chap. XII. Snakes.

Fatima, Selima, Great Peter 217

Chap. XIII. Seals, Sea-lions.

Tesca, Sea-lion; Toby, Seal; Wilmer, Sea-lion .... 233

Chap. XIV. Dogs.

Bridge, Eskimo ; Pluto, Great Dane 249

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Page Polly, the Chimpanzee in the New York Zoological Park, Who Has Succeeded Dohong, the Orang-utan, in Popular Favor . . Frontispiece

Claire Heliot and Her Lion Yula, who is by no Means an Animal to be Trusted .... 6

Lopez, the Celebrated Jaguar in the New York Zoological Park, who is one of the Most Deceitful of His Deceitful Kind ... 24

Mme. Morelli and Her Celebrated Leopard Cartouche, who is Noted for His Savageness and Untamabilitvt ........ 38

Snow, the Celebrated Polar Bear in the New York Zoological Park, who, in Apparent Playfulness, Killed the Mate Provided for Him . . 50

Sultan, who is Noted for His Wonderful Feats of

Equilibrium in the Barnum and Bailey Circus. 84 '

Mezoviro, in the New York Zoological Park, is one of the Most Interesting Rhinoceroses in Captivity 88

Black Beauty, the Bison in the New York Zoological Park, who Showed such Enmity Towards the Other Members of the Herd that he is now Kept in Solitude 148

George Washington, the Celebrated Ostrich on the South Pasadena Ostrich Farm, Having His Feathers Plucked . . . . . . .178

Buster, the Celebrated Tortoise in the New York Zoological Park, who is About 370 Years Old . 212

Great Peter, in Bostock's, is one of the Largest Pythons Ever Kept in Captivity . . . .226 wllmer, in the barnum and bailey clrcus, is the Only Sea-lion in the World that can Ride on Horseback . . . . . . . . .244

. PREFACE.

The stories contained in this book are of actual animals, nearly all of whom are still living and on exhibition in various Zoological Gardens and menageries in different parts of the world. The facts related have been given me at first hand from the naturalists and trainers in charge, and most of the animals described are old personal friends of my own.

The majority of instances have come under my own personal observation and study, and, whenever it is otherwise, I have made, clear that fact and given the source from which I received my information.

It is, possible in all cases for those readers who might possibly doubt some of the instances related to verify each story told in this book by going or writing to those authorities.

I am hoping, by presenting this book of actually true stories to the public, to show and prove some valuable traits in animals which may possibly be of some value to Natural History. I am specially indebted to the facilities afforded me in the New York Zoological Park by the courtesy of Mr. W. T. Hornaday, the Director, who has given me every opportunity to study the animals under his care; to Dr. Ernst Pinkert, Director of the Zoological Gardens, Leipzig, Germany; E. M. B. Villiers, Esq., Superintendent Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, England; Dr. F. A. Crandall, Superintendent of the Zoo, Buffalo; Dr. Seitz, Director Zoological Gardens, Frankfurt-on-Main, Germany; P. Chalmers Mitchell, Esq., Secretary Royal Zoological Gardens, London, England; Professor Clemente Onelli, Director Zoological Gardens, Buenos Ayres; E. F. Scharff, Esq., Secretary Royal Zoological Gardens, Dublin, Ireland; Edwin Cawston, Esq., President, and M. S. Vallely, of the Pasadena Ostrich Farm, California; Messrs. Lee & S. Shubert of the New York Hippodrome ; Mr. Frank C. Bostock; the proprietors of the Barnum and Bailey Circus; and to my many friends, the trainers, performers, and keepers who have done all in their power to help me with this book by giving me unique information, occasional private performances, and some excellent stories.

The difficulties of obtaining information and unique photographs, such as are contained in this work, cau only be realized by those who have tried it. For instance, an animal may be in a zoological garden or animal show for years and never once do anything which is the least unusual or worthy of notice. From many zoological gardens I have received the courteous reply that the Directors would be only too pleased to give me animal stories if they had any, but that they knew of absolutely nothing of their animals which was either unusual or of sufficient interest to make even a short anecdote.

This is only one of the many difficulties, but these difficulties have been more than compensated for by the many pleasures and courtesies I have received during the time I have been doing this work. I can only hope that my readers will appreciate the stories one-half as much as I have appreciated the experiences. Ellen Velvin.

New York City, June, 1907.

CHAPTER I. Wallace, Yula, Sultan, Baltimore, Schley and Dewey

THERE are so many stories about lions, and so many lions in captivity which have become known or celebrated in some way or another that it is extremely difficult, in a book of this size, to determine which to select. It would take a whole book to tell of all I have heard of or even seen and studied myself; so I will only take a few which I think will be most interesting" to the general public.

Nearly everyone who takes any interest in wild animals has heard of the famous lion Wallace, who is so notorious for his savagery and many escapades. Wallace was at one time the property of George Wombwell and finally became the property of Mr. Frank C. Bostock, in whose animal show he is still to be seen. This lion has been exhibited in all parts of the world, the inhabitants of Australia, Africa, and Southern Europe taking a special interest in him. Time after time various trainers tried to train this lion and perform with him. It has always ended most seriously for the trainer, more than one man having nearly lost his life.

Only last winter Mr. Bostock, when at the Hippodrome in Paris, was giving a benefit for the widows and orphans of some men killed in a mining disaster, and undertook to perform with this lion. As a rule Wallace behaved fairly well with Mr. Bostock, but on this occasion he turned ugly in the middle of the performance and severely injured his master.

"Wallace created a tremendous sensation on his first appearance in America sixteen years ago. While the animals were lying in the docks at New York, Wallace, who had been in the worst of tempers during the voyage owing to sickness and the unusual surroundings, became very restless and uneasy, roared _and paced about his cage, and tore and strained at his bars as if determined to get out. As lie was often in this restless state, no particular notice was taken of him, except to see that he was secure.

But, in some way or another, Wallace did get out and, as soon as he found himself at liberty, rushed straight for an unfortunate horse which was standing near the docks and injured it terribly. Men ran out armed with all sorts of implements and with firearms, but with so many men it was extremely difficult to shoot without endangering the men themselves.

Finally, one man, seeing the desperate plight the poor horse was in, attempted to go to his assistance and, getting at close range, was just going to fire, when Wallace, with a furious growl, rushed at him, bore him to the ground and before anyone could prevent it killed him. The fright and consternation may be imagined, and every man present made the very greatest efforts to kill or overcome the now furious animal. But in spite of all, Wallace defied them, fought so desperately and wildly that it was as much as they could all do to save their own lives, and then, in the midst of it all, made his escape and was free to roam about in the City of New York !

For forty-eight hours Wallace was at large, and the people were almost in a state of panic. All sorts of stories got about. Some declared they had seen him in one place, and some in another; but one whole day passed without anyone knowing his whereabouts, and a terrible time of anxiety and trouble the proprietors went through. Large rewards were offered for his capture dead or alive, big sums were offered to men who would join in the search, but it was nearly thirty-eight hours before he was discovered lying down quietly in a side street, and, whether he was faint for want of food, or tired of roaming about no one will ever know. After another exciting period of ten hours he was driven into a cage and his freedom was over.

About two years after this, at San Francisco, while the keepers were feeding the animals, one man ventured too near Wallace's cage. The lion suddenly thrust out one paw and tore the man's arm from the shoulder. As Wallace was noted only for these bloodcurdling episodes, I think enough has been told about him. His owner declares him to be double the age of any lion that has ever lived in captivity; he says he has been in captivity fifty years, and that it was fifty years ago that this lion fought the dogs at Warwick Castle in England. He is certainly a notorious lion in many ways, and I have watched him many a time ; but, beyond showing that he is of a peculiarly savage nature, he does not look any different from any of the other lions, except that he is now beginning to show signs of his age.

Miss Claire Heliot, who performed with twelve lions at the New York Hippodrome some time ago, had some extremely fine lions, and there was one that interested me very much. He was her best lion and the one she was always photographed with. Some of these photographs which she gave me are truly wonderful, showing the nerve she must have to allow such an animal in such close proximity, and also the marvelous control she must have over the lion to make him keep so still.

This lion Yula was nearly always amiable and affectionate when with her, but with the men, and on rare occasions with her, he would suddenly flare out with such a burst of passion that he was by no means an animal to be trusted. And yet, at the end of her performance, Miss Heliot would take this lion on her shoulders — he weighed nearly five hundred pounds— and carry him off the stage! I asked her one day how she managed to do it, and she told me she had had him since he was a young cub ; that she had begun to carry him in this manner when he was quite small and that, by constantly doing it day by day, she had been able to bear as heavy a weight as five hundred pounds on her shoulders, keep it there and walk across the floor with it for a few minutes.

Towards strangers this lion was anything but amiable. I was in the lions' stable one

Claire Heliot and Her Lion Yuia, who is by Means an Animal to'be Trusted day talking with Miss Heliot while some repairs were being done to the floor of the stables. Consequently it was necessary for me to pass close to the lions' cages on one side or the other to get into the place at all. Miss Heliot stopped my even attempting to do it as she said they would be sure to catch me with their paws.

So she stood in front of her favorite lion, with both hands spread her skirts out to their widest extent, and then told me to go by. I did, but that lion noticed it instantly and, like a flash of lightning, tried to get his paw round Miss Heliot 's skirts and catch me. Then she talked to him about it reprovingly and the lion's whole manner altered in the most wonderful manner. When he had leaped up and pushed his paw out through the bars his eyes blazed and his mouth opened a little, while his whole attitude told of anger and defiance; but, when Miss Heliot talked to him he put his head against the bars, rubbed it against hers, and hung his head afterward in as meek and mild a manner as

I suppose it is possible for such a wild animal to assume.

The well-known lion Baltimore, who nearly killed his trainer, Captain Bonavita, causing his right arm to be amputated, is still in the Bostock show and behaves as he always has behaved. Quiet and slow, apparently fairly good tempered, this lion is only, watching for an opportunity to attack some one all the time. He will probably never more perform with twenty-seven in a group, as he did with . Captain Bonavita, but he still performs, and will, undoubtedly, one of these days, do his best to overcome another trainer. A full account of this terrible occurrence is given in 16 Behind the Scenes with Wild Animals."

There is a most interesting lion in the New York Zoological Park. Sultan has proved that some lions, at any rate, do not forget old friends. He came from Carl Hagenbeck's establishment in Germany and for a time was anything but pleased and contented with America. No doubt he longed for his native home and freedom, but after a while, especially when lie was provided with a congenial companion, Bedouin Maid, he became quiet and contented and is now one of the best tempered lions in captivity.

At the sight of his keeper, he will spring up, go over to the wire netting and rub himself against it like an old tame cat. Unlike most lions, who seldom care for frivolity, he is quite playful at times, and at a few friendly touches and words from his keeper will roll over on his back, wave his paws in the air and enjoy it as much as any young kitten. His life has not been particularly eventful since his arrival in the Park; one day is much the same as another and, when he is not pacing up and down his cage, he is generally sleeping peacefully. When sleeping, outside influences, the talking of visitors, roarings from his neighbors, and the like, are not even noticed by him; he sleeps peacefully through all, not even taking the trouble to open an eye to see what is going on.

But one day, when sleeping in this peaceful manner, Mr. Hagenbeck came into the lion house and, standing in front of Sultan, said quietly :

"Why, there's my old friend, Sultan!"

The sound of that voice was like an electric shock to the lion. His sleepiness disappeared as "if my magic. With a bound and little curious gutteral growls he was up on his feet and over at the bars, rubbing himself against them, purring his loudest and doing all in his power to show his delight at seeing his old friend again.

The two friends shook "hands" warmly, Sultan putting up his paw in the meekest manner. It would have been difficult to say which was the most pleased, the Barbary lion or the dealer in wild animals. Pleased and excited as Sultan was to meet an old friend again, he seemed to forget the incident as soon as it was closed; almost before Mr. Hagenbeck was through the doorway he settled down comfortably, licked his paws, rested his huge head easily on them and calmly finished his nap.

Sultan's wife, Bedouin Maid, distinguished herself one morning by presenting five fine little cubs to the Park. As three is usually the largest number at a birth, this was quite a large family. The cubs were fine, healthy little specimens who looked about and around their world from the moment they were born — lion cubs are born with their eyes open — mewed like little kittens, and were certainly the prettiest little animals ever seen.

Their soft, tawny little bodies were covered with faint dark spots ; they were well formed, had neat, nicely rounded heads and looked as though they had all just waked up from a nice refreshing nap. "When these cubs were about three months old they had got over the worst of their troubles, teething and the like, and by this time are no longer cubs ; there are now only four of them— one having had an accident, and strong, vigorous specimens of young lions they are, now over four years old and nearly full grown.

In my many studies of wild animals in captivity, I have always maintained that no wild animal is ever " tamed," only trained, and I still keep the same opinion, although I have seen many wonderful instances of apparently "tame" wild animals.

In the Mundy wild animal show at Luna Park last year I found two lions, twins, Schley and Dewey, who were born at Columbia, Tennessee, on September 20, 1901. The father and mother are inmates of the same show and are trained animals which are still performing. At first there did not seem to be anything particular or out of the way about either of these animals. They were both well grown, finely developed and apparently healthy and weal cared for. But one day when Mr. Mundy was taking me around the show he told me how wonderfully gentle and docile these two animals were, especially Schley. Dewey was only docile to a certain degree, and when put out about anything could get decidedly ugly, and was then difficult to manage.

Schley, on the other hand, up to the time I met him had never shown even the slightest indications of ill temper or unruliness in any way or under any circumstances. Mr. Mundy stood close to the bars of the cage and this full grown lion put his two fore paws through the bars round his master's neck, and not only drew him close to the bars — a frightfully risky thing to do as anyone who knows anything about wild animals will understandbut actually played with his head and shoulders in exactly the same manner as a cat will play with a ball or any moving object.

The huge paws, too, I noticed had not their villainous claws sheathed but were drawn in and out, and it is still a marvel to me that the man's head and shoulders were not torn to pieces. I have watched many blood-curdling things in animal shows, many daringly risky things which have been exhibited for my express edification, but I have never seen a more risky thing than that.

The proprietor seemed to have no fear whatever and declared that, as he had reared and brought up the animal from a tiny cub, it would never hurt him. But I could not help noticing in the rough play that his shirt was torn to strips in some parts and called his attention to it. He admitted that the lion had torn it that morning, but "only in play."

But this lion has certainly done some wonderful things. On one occasion, when at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Schley actually rode on the front seat of Mr. Mundy's automobile through the streets when there were over 50,000 people present. Of course many precautions were taken and, in case of the slightest sign of an intention on Schley's part to get down, he would have been shot. But he sat there placidly watching the people, making no movement whatever, except through the motion of the car itself, and appeared not only contented but calmly interested in what was going on.

On another occasion, when the proprietor of the show gave a jungle dinner, Schley was allowed to come in at the end of the meal, and not only walked in quietly and calmly, but actually got on the table itself and sat there placidly for some time. He looked around at the many faces, smelled one or two bottles and glasses, sniffed a cigar, which he did not seem tcr care for, and then quietly jumped off the table and walked to the door as though he had had enough of it.

And, in spite of his apparent tameness, there were those in the company who intimated that as, after all, he was a wild animal, perhaps it would be just as well not to thwart him, but to let him have his own way. And no one can blame those few who gave a sigh of relief as the door closed, for, however interesting a lion may be at dinner, no one can be quite sure what he will do next; and even a few playful, clumsy gambols might not only turn the tables over, but some of the men themselves, and the falling down of a man, no matter for what reason, is always apt to rouse all the savage instincts of a wild animal, no matter how "tame" or well trained he may be.

I watched this lion many, many times last summer, and never once did I see the slightest sign of fierceness, savagery, or even that restlessness which is invariable with wild animals. As so often happens in all animal shows, from some cause or another — and very often without any apparent cause at allone animal would get excited, roar, or howl according to his nature, and instantly the whole collection would join in roaring, howling, whining, barking, screaming, crying and chattering until one's head grew dizzy with the noise and deafening din.

On all these occasions Schley remained exactly the same as before. While all the other animals in the show were doing their best to let themselves be heard, Schley would keep quite still and quiet. At one time he got up slowly and reluctantly, yawned as if annoyed at being disturbed, looked placidly round the show, and then settled himself comfortably, as though he took no interest in the matter.

At another time, when a little terrier ran into the show yelping at the top of his voice in sheer terror, which created a very pandemonium among the animals, Schley walked slowly forward to the front of his cage, watched the little terrier wildly and blindly trying-to find a way out of the terrible place, and then settled himself on the floor of his cage once more, resting his big head on his fore paws. Although the roarings and crying of the other animals continued for some time in spite of every effort to quiet them, Schley took not the slightest notice, not even when his twin brother, Dewey, rose up, drew in his breath in short, quick gasps, and joined in vigorously.

Certainly when feeding time arrives, Schley will then, with the others, pace up and down and become just as impatient as any of them, but it is in a very quiet way, not an excitable, wild manner like the others. He will clutch at his meat greedily, too, but, when he has once got hold of it, his placid manner returns and he eats his meal much in the same way he does everything else, as if he had plenty of time and was not at all uneasy.

Even if the men pretend to take the meat away, an action which will generally make the tamest animal angry, Schley will look quietly at them, keep a tight hold of the meat and, when they have finished, go on with his meal!

I have never seen any wild animal so apparently tame, in every way. I say "apparently" because, as I have said so many times before, I do not believe in the ' 'tameness" of any wild animal, no matter how real it may seem to be. A wild animal is always a wild animal; no training, care, or kindness can ever actually eradicate the inherent savagery and fierceness of his nature. There only needs to be something to bring it out. In the majority of wild animals there are certain things which almost invariably do so, but with Schley these things do not seem to count.

But one of these days, some little thing will happen, some trifle perhaps, which no one will expect him to even notice, and from some unknown reason, or perhaps no reason at all, that savage nature will suddenly assert itself and prove that, after all, Schley is a wild animal. If it does not, then, indeed, he deserves a monument as one of the most remarkable wild animals that has ever been known - in captivity.

And up to this time nothing has happened to even ruffle him!

CHAPTER II. Lopez, Jaguar; Chang and Eng, Snow Leopards

IT seems to me that The New York Zoological Park is particularly fortunate in obtaining fine specimens of animals, from the residents in the Lion House down to the smaller rodents in the Small Mammal House. One particularly fine specimen of the cat tribe is Lopez, a full grown male jaguar, noted for his beauty of form, coloring and size, and also for an act which has made him notorious. He lives in a spacious cage of his own in the Lion House, and his ceaseless pacing up and down, to and fro, is like the coming and going of the tide.

There are times when, in spite of his clean, well kept quarters and his good food, Lopez does not seem happy, but it is impossible to tell by appearances with this animal what he is feeling or thinking about, for Lopez is one of the most deceitful of his deceitful kind.

When in May, 1903, Lopez arrived at the Park, after a somewhat rough journey, he appeared, after having got over the scared period which all wild animals pass through after a long journey, to be a playful, genial, good-tempered wild cat. Even before being transf ered to his home in the Lion House — and he w^as one of the very first residents there, having been installed before the house was finished — he showed a disposition to have a quiet game with any one who cared to play with him.

He celebrated his first entrance into his new home by rolling on his bask, all four paws in the air, and purring loudly. Never, from his first appearance in captivity, did Lopez ever snarl, beat himself against the bars of his cage, or show any particular signs of fierceness such as may have been expected from one of his nature. Consequently, when a fine young female jaguar was purchased from Carl Hagenbeck's establishment in Hamburg, for the purpose of becoming a companion for him in his solitude, Lopez manifested every sign of pleasure and good will.

But those who know anything of wild animals never judge by appearances, and, in spite of all the jaguar's demonstrations of good will, it was deemed advisable to let the newcomer remain in her own cage until they were well acquainted with one another. Her cage was raised to the level of his and the bars were in close proximity to one another.

Lopez was more interested than ever and grew so friendly that at last he condescended to put his paw through the bars of the cage and play with her, to which the young jaguar responded.

She did not seem to have the slightest fear of him but to be anxious to get into the larger cage, for she had already been in the small cramped one— her travelling cage — for six long weeks.

The cages remained in this position for several days and, when no signs of dislike, savageness, or displeasure had been noticed by anyone, it was decided, after a consultation between the Director and those in authority, that it was now perfectly safe to admit the young jaguar into the cage of Lopez to be his companion.

Both jaguars seemed intensely interested in the opening of the doors, and the young female jaguar walked quietly through with a little purr, evidently expecting to be warmly welcomed. But the moment that door was opened, the evil and latent treachery in Lopez's nature came to the surface. Evidently, he had not eared for the new jaguar at all and his friendly overtures had meant nothing. His whole attitude changed. His eyes blazed, his fur quivered, his muscles grew rigid and taut and, with a savage, throaty growl, he did as he always had done when killing— sprang at the back of the young jaguar's neck, inserting his long canine teeth deeply and held on like a bull dog. So fierce and sudden had been the attack that the poor young jaguar was powerless. No available thing could make him even loosen his deadly hold, although the keepers got an'iron scraper, a hardwood pole over ten feet long, and any other tools they could find on such short notice.

Everything was done that could be done with such a treacherous and savage brute; he was prodded in the face, beaten sharply over the head, and on his feet. He simply shut his eyes tightly and held on to his victim with more force and determination than before. He tried to get away once by raising himself, and carrying the now dying jaguar to the other side of the cage, just as a cat would carry a kitten.

A whole minute or more passed before he would let go, and then the young jaguar dropped heavily and limply to the floor, where she died in a few minutes. There was a terrible time in getting the body out, for Lopez proved himself to be one of the most villainous and savage brutes ever seen in captivity, and one or two of the men ran some heavy risks, but, when it was finally taken out and examined, it was found that two of the neck vertebrae had been completely crushed, while the spinal cord was penetrated by pieces of bone.