The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07
AN ELEPHANTS FRATERNAL FEELING AND
AFFECTION
From the Buffalo Democracy.


While a wagon drawn by several elephants
was passing our Office yesterday, the following
story was told, which we vouch for as true:
Last season, a menagerie visited the village
of Johnstown, Herkimer county. When the
cavalcade left town, it passed over bridge
which the road crossed, leaving two elephants
to bring up the rear. These were driven to the
bridge, but, with the known sagacity of the
race, they refused to cross The water of the
creek, which flows through gorge in the slate
formation, presenting at that point banks of
precipitous character, and thirty feet in height
was low, and by taking course across corn
field ford could be reached. But the pro-
prietor of the corn6eld refused to allow his prop
erty to be so used, except on the payment Of
an exorbitant sum, and this the agent of the
menagerie refused to submit to. Accordingly
the elephants were again driven to the bridge,
and again they refused to attempt the crossing.
They would try the structure with their great
feet, feel cautiously along the plank with their
proboscal fingers, but each time would recoil
from making the dangerous experiment.
AT last, however, goaded by the sharp iron
instrument of the keeper, and accustomed to
obedience, they rushed on with scream half of
agony, half of anger. The result showed the
prudent prescience of the poor animals to have
ing to the bottom of the gorge, carving with it
both the monstrous beasts. One of them struck
upon its tusk and shoulder, breaking the former
and very badly injuring the latter; the other
was, strangely enough, unhurt. Now was shown
the most singular and remarkable conduct on
the part of the brute which had escaped Its
comrade lay there, an extempore bed being pro-
vided for its comfort, while no temptation, no
stratagem, was sufficient to induce the other to
leave, and proceed with the main portion of the
caravan, which finally went on, leaving the
wounded beast and its companion under the
charge of their keeper.
Day after day the suffering creature lay there,
rapidly failing, and unable to move At the end
of three weeks, the water in the creek com
menced rising, and there was danger it would
overflow and drown the disabled elephant. The
keeper desired, therefore, to get it up and make
1T walk as far as barn near by, where it would
be out of danger, and could be better cared for
But it would not stir. He coaxed, wheedled
and scolded, but all to no purpose. At last
enraged, he seized pitchfork, and was about
plunging it into the poor things flesh, when the
companion wrenched the fork from his hand,
broke it in fragments, and flung the pieces
from 1t; then, with eyes glazing, and every
evidence of rage in its manner, it stood over its
detenceless and wounded friend, as if daring the
keeper to approach, which the man was not so
green as to do again with cruel purpose.
Thus the injured animal lay there until it
died. When satisfied that it could no longer
be of service, the other quietly followed the
keeper away from the spot, and showed no
desire to return. If this was not reasoning,
mingled with an affection some men might
pattern after, we should like to know what to
call IT.