A FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11568, 8 July 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

A FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

A terrible battle was recently waged in the aquarium at Bayeux between two crocodiles, who tore each other's hind legs off in. the struggle, while hundreds of visitors looked on. It was a thrilling scene for those who happened to be present in the aquarium when the two brutes attacked each other. According to the keeper they were comfortably sleeping on the sanded flooi , where they bad been on exhibition for many years, and the flies were buzzing around' just as though the two amphibians were pine loga. Presently Jacques, the younger, opened his eyes and glanced sideways at Pierri, who slept on unconcernedly. Whether in a moment of playfulness or whether to balance some grudge dating back to the Nile and freedom, will never be known, but the next instant Jacques whipped his tail across Pierri's no3e, and, with a lunge, closed his powerful jaws on the left hind leg of his associate. Pierre was awake in a second. A rush of air escaped from his throat like the roar of a blast furnace, and with a deep clap as if a triphammer had closed its jaws, he buried his teeth in the right hind leg of his antagonist. Their armoured tails whipped the air and struck the sand like huge flails swung by powerful arm 9. Writhing, 'rolling, straining and biting' as the air whistled through their nostrils, they fought from side to side of the cage, never lettiug go for au instant.

Only the cracking of bones brought them to their senses, for in the thickest of the strife Pierri tightened his grip on Jacques' leg, and his tebth crashed through the femur bone of the offending one. Jacques curved like a bow, and bit back with the same results, munching Pierri's mangled joint in his frenzy.

This separated the two, and they lashed themselves around the enclosure, splashing each other with blood. The space in front of ths crocodiles cage was so congested with spectators that the keepers had to tight their war through to get the veterinary surgeon, wbo was summoned as soon as the combatants were properly separated and tied down, so that they ".ould be easily operated upon. The work of amputating the two shattered limbs was very delicate ;ndeed. Strong straps were brought in to hold the crocodiles down. A keen butcher knife and a butcher's saw were brought into play. The flesh was first cut away uader the heavy armour, and the bone carefully sawed off while the thick epidermis was rolled back ngainst the body. Then arose the problem of how to sew up the overlap. It was finally compromised by punching holes with a brad awl and sewing the skin together with antiseptic linen twine and a sack needle.

Neither of the crocodiles evinced the slightest concern during the operation, and merely blinked and winked while it was going on. To all appearances they were not even aware that anything unusual had happened. Tho blood was washed away out of their eyes and away from their jaws, and -the two fighters were separated for all time. A careful record is being kept of their condition, and the veterinary surgeon assures the keepers that Jacques and Pierri will get woll, and suffer no great distress beyond that of having to stump around on three feet instead of four.

The Czur of Eussia possesses forty four uniforms. ' There are in the United States and Canada, according to the latest report, 802,282 Masons aud 804,557 Odd Fellows. The bottom of the sea. has been | proved to be almost entiioly a flat surface. The bottom of the Pacific, between California and Hawaii, i 9 said to be so level that a railroad could be laid 500 miles without altering the grade This remarkable fact was discovered by the United States survey ves3els. To Harvard University Mongs the j credit of having established fhe highest meteorological station in the world — ! namely, four miles above the sea level — on the summit of El Misti, a quiescent volcano in Peru. Ft i 3 19.200 feet above sea level, or ub >ut 3,500 feet 'higher than tho noted station of Mont Blanc..