Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-05-31
THE ELEPHANT.

In the year 1905. the British army la d
siege to The city of B rutpore. in the East
Indies. The siege was long one, the
army large, and attended by thousands OF
cattle ard horses, and great many Ele-
plants. In that no; country. SO many
men and animals, of course, drank large
quantities Of wafer every day, so that
when the summer came with its dry winds,
j, was found that the tanks, or ponds.
hogan to fail, and were after while entire
" dry. At these ponds, the cattle and
Elephants always drank, so that when they
were dried up, there was no water, except
in the wells, which in that country are
very large, being ten or Twelve fet across.
At one Of these wells, on which they chief
" depend for water, there was constant
crowd of men and ANIMALS, all thirsty, and
each one anxious to drink before the other.
so that there was often much confusion.
and sometimes hard words among the men
who came to water the beasts.
One day, two Elephant keepers. each
with his Elephant, came as usual after "a.
ter. One OF these animals was very large,
and the other small and weak A bucket
had heen given the small one by his keeper
which he carried on the end Of his trunk,
but he large one had no bucket, nor had,
hiskeepcr any, with which to draw up the
water. The large Elephant being thirsty,
and wantiugto 10 drink first, and seeing that
the bucket was in possession Of his weaker
brother was in his power, selzrd it and took
il away from his poor fellow servant, who
was probably as thirsty as himself. Tue
small Elephant knew his own weakness too
we'll, to try TO take his buckei again, or 10
pun sh such an insult by open violence.
He therefore, for the present, remained
quiet, probably thinking to take his revenge
in some other way. The keepers, how.
ever, quarrelled between themselves. and
offered each other much abuse, because he
master of the small Elephant thought the
other keeper told his animal 10 take away
the bucket. While they were quarrelllng,
the small Elephant was watching the large
one, and seeking chance to punish him
for the insult; and seeing him happen to
turn his side towards the we'll, he drew
back a few steps, to give himself more
force, and then rushing forward with all
his might struck his enemy such terrible
blow, as to pitch him fairly into the well.
Such an accident to the fountain on
whichs, many people depended for water
gave great alarm to the officers and others
for no one saw how the huge anlpa
could be raised out, and therefore they
thought he must perish there, and thus
spoil the water. The we'll, down TO the
water where the elephant lay. was abou
twenty feet deep, and the depth of wafer
below him. was considerable so that he
floaled on the surface; and not being hur
by the fall seemed highly 10 enjoy SO COO
and comfortable place, and made no ex
ertions 10 get out. After some time spent
in conrivtng what course could be taken
to raise the an: NAL out,wthout hurting him
his keeper thought it could be done by sink
ing fascines under him, aud thus gradual,
raising him to the top of the well. Fas
cines are bundles of small wood or brus
bound together, and aie used by armies
to fill up bitches or small streams ofwater
so that men and horses can cross them
mhen thera are no brld les. a vast num-