Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1891 — Jocko's Recreation. [ARTICLE]

Jocko's Recreation.

A few pedestrians who wero out for a morning stroll witnessed a brief but bloocly battle through the windows of the Market street bird store Sunday morning.

Among the denizens of the place is a monkey callod Jocko, whose proclivity for mischief has led him into disgrace bo fore. On the morning in question Jocki determined to go on a lurk. He sue needed in picking the lock of his cage, • und once free turned his attention to his feathered companions. It took him but a few minutes to unlock a dozen of the various cages in tho room, and soon a funny procession of monkeys and parrots were strutting about. In a few minutes trouble began to brew. One of the parrots, in a spirit of mischief, probably, bit Jocko, and a lively battle ensued. Polly soon found that she was getting the worst of it and made a run for her cage, minus her tail feathers and part of a wing. Jocko, who was then thoroughly aroused, sailed in for a gonerul massacre and in a short time had the floor to himself, save for Minnie, a nightingale, whe was too dazed to escape. With one blow the bird was stretched lifeless ou the floor. The monkey then offered battle to a bigstuffed owl which had been gazing solemnly upon the scene, and receiving no answer to his challenge threw the bird off its pedestal. Jocko’s Waterloo was awaiting him. however. A huge vampire bat, which had been watching the battle, jumped down from his perch, and Jocko started for him. The contest was brief. The sharp beak and talons of tho bird buried themselves like a flash in the monkey’s flesh, and Jocko was glad to make his escape with tho blood flowing from a dozen wounds. At this juncture the proprietor and hostilities ceusod.—[San Francisco Chronicle.