Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-06-08
tFrom the Buffalo Democracy
An Elephants TraternnI Feeling md
\ fpctiou.

While wagon drawn bv several clophnnts
! was passing our office Yesterday. the follow
ing story was told which W. vouch for =
! true -
Last season, managrrie visited the village
ot Johnstown, llerkimer county when tho
cavalcade left town it passed over a bridge
which the road crossed, leaving two elephants
to bring up the rear. Those were driven to
the bridge, but with the known saracitv of
the race they refused to cross Tho yvator
OF the creek, which flows through gorge in
the slate formation, presenting at that point
banks OF preci pitous character and thirty
ieet IN height, was low. and by takinr
course across corn field n ford could he
reached But the proprietor Of tho corn
held refused to allow his property to be so
used, except on the payment Of an exorbitant
sum, and this, the agent Of the managerie re-
iusea TO submit to. Accordingly, the cle-
Phants were again driven to the bridge and
again they refused to attempt the crossing.
Ihey would try the structure with their
great feet, feel cautiously along the plank
with their proboscial fingers, but each time
would recoil from making the dangerous c1-
priment.
At last, however, gondcd by the sharp.
IRON instrument Of the keeper, and ac-u.-
TONED 10 obedience, they rushed on, with q
scream half Of agony, half Of anger. Tho re-
oul' showed the prudent prc.cience of the
poor animals to have been correct the hridre
broke, and went crashing to the hotton or
the gorge, carrying with 1t both the mons
trous beasts. One Of them struck uron 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 con-
duct on the part of the brute which had es-
caPed. Its comrade lay there, an extempore
ped being provided for its comfort. while no
temptation. no stratagem was sufficient to in.
duce 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
LAY alter day the suffering creature lay
there, rapidly failing and unable to move. At
thc END OF three weeks, tho water in the
creek commenced rising, and there was dan
ger 1t would overflow and drown the disabled
elephant. The keeper desired. therefore. to
get 1t up and make it 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. lie coaxed, wheedled and scolded, but
all TO no purpose. At last enraged he
seized pitchfork, and was about plunging
1t INTO the poor things flesh, when the com
panlon wrcnched the fork from his hand.
broke 1t IN fragments, and flung to pieces
from 1t then with eyes glaring and every
evidence OF rage in its manner, it stood over
its detenceess and wounded friend as if daring
the keeper to approach which the man was
not so green as to do again, with cruel pur-
pose
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,