The first case of bubonic plague in Sydney occurred in January 1900. Sporadic cases occurred long after the initial outbreak and the Zoological Gardens at Moore Park did not escape. In 1902, they were forced to close, at least temporarily;
Naturally the question arose of how the infection entered the Zoo. It was believed there were not many rats there, owing to a large number of cats. Another theory arose. In February a 14 year old boy, J. McIntyre, contracted the plague while selling fruit at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where Ben Hur was being staged. In another calamity, the Theatre burned down. So what were they to do with the camel which had been appearing in the production? The answer is as follows;
The camel which used to appear in ‘Ben Hur’ at Her Majesty’s Theatre prior to the fire, and which was frequently seen taking fresh air and exercise in the streets of the city, in charge of an Afghan, has been purchased by the New South Wales Zoological Society, the secretary of the society having paid Mr J. C. Williamson £50 for it. Lest the weather should be too cold for it during a portion of the year it will be covered with warm rugs at night throughout the coming winter. (Australian Star April 7, 1902)
Could that be the ex ‘Ben Hur’ star in the following photo? If so, he certainly wasn’t looking a picture of health;
The suspicion was that the camel had contracted the plague at the Theatre and carried it into the zoo. When the matter was referred to the City Council’s Health Committee, their medical officer was unable to say whether such a scenario was likely. Little was known about the plague in relation to native animals such as wallabies and kangaroos…..or camels for that matter.
Deep cleaning and disinfecting resulted in a slow reduction in the number of cases. However, just when the gardens were about to re-open in early June one of the attendants, 24 year old Barker Benson, died from bubonic plague.
The patient Benson, who was found to be suffering from the disease on Friday, died at the Coast Hospital shortly after 6 o’clock last evening. He has been in a very critical condition since admission. The deceased was an attendant on the lions and tigers and was at his work as late as Thursday last, when he was suddenly taken ill….During the cleaning operations a large number of rats were discovered under the cages occupied by the lions and tigers. (Daily Telegraph, June 9 1902)
The gates remained closed until August 16. Some people wanted the zoo to be moved right out of the city.
At a meeting of the Zoological Society the secretary revealed there had been a loss of £1800 in revenue during the months of closure. Even though many animals and birds had died (about fifty), it was decided that to reduce costs a further reduction in stock, especially among the carnivores, would be necessary. Three lions and three leopards were on the list. Even this presented a problem, ‘ On this point however, there is some difficulty, as at present a great prejudice is entertained by other similar bodies in the Commonwealth against animals coming from an institution in which plague cases occurred.’ (The Evening News, August 30 1902)
Of course politics features in everything, and the anti-federation brigade could not resist a golden opportunity;
Federation seems to have put the millennium back by at least anther millennium. No longer can the lion and the lamb live within the same enclosure, though in different cages. The hard times brought about by this blessed union have made it impossible for the authorities of the Sydney Zoo to keep so large an assortment of animals as they have been wont to do. They are putting up to action several fine lions, leopards, Zebu bulls, ostriches, snakes, iguanas, and last but not least, donkeys. Had there been a general clearance, not only from the Sydney Zoo, but from the face of Australia, of all the donkeys, this federal curse would never have been brought upon us. (The Telegraph (Brisbane) Nov. 3 1902)
There was a revival of Ben Hur in 1912, this time at The Theatre Royal. Actress Gwen Burroughs went along to meet her co-star. Thankfully, Sydney’s epidemic of plague was becoming a distant memory by then.
NOTE – IN THE UNDERSTANDABLE PANIC ABOUT RATS SPREADING THE PLAGUE, THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN TO EXTERMINATE THEM. ONE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT SYDNEY’S NATIVE BUSH RATS DIED OUT. FOR AN INTERESTING ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT, CLICK HERE.
The nocturnal native bush rats.
