American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-05-23
MMGANTOWN MON0NGALLA CO. VA, SATURDAY, MAY % 1857.

The end now draws nigh. Men sta
toned at the top of the palisades with
crackers and long iron hooks, urge the
foremost elephant into the narrow pas
sage before spoken of. He has fore
boding that evil is here to befall him,
and refuses to go. But the hallooing
in his rear is so great, and the fire.
crackers, squibs, and other assaulting
missiles so terrify him, that he finally
advances. He has gone but few
yards before he tries to return. Not
having room to turn around, he COM
mences to back out. Some large bars
are speedily put across the passage to
stop his exit. On arriving at the far
ther end of the passage, new crossbars
are immediately showed in behind the
elephant. He is thus closely confined,
in order that he may have no opportu-
nifty to use his immense strength,
which, if he had perfect freedom,
would doubtless be sufficient, in this
his last extremity, to break down all
barriers to his liberty. Sometimes,
when the elephant is thus confined at
the end of the narrow passage, he rears
on his hind legs; to prevent this, and
also to facilitate the passage of rope
about his neck, stout beams are secure
ly lashed above him. .......
Now begins the labor of securing the
the ANIMALS feet, neck, and trunk,
with ropes. His attempts at escape
become extremely violent, and it needs
all the cunning and vigilance of the ma
tivcs to master him. Sometimes he
rises on his hind legs, and breaks the
logs over his back; sometimes he rush.
es desperately at the gate, which he
perceives to be the terminus of his pris
on; and again he bears his whole weight
against the palisades, to break them
down. AT every point he is opposed
by men armed with spears. With the
sharp points of these weapons his re-
sistance is made painful to himself
Meantime large ropes are laid down
beneath his hind legs to catch them;
as soon as he places his foot in q moose,
1T is drawn tight Five or six turns of
smaller rope are then placed about his
neck as kind of collar.
When the animal is completely har,
messed, two tame elephants, trained to
this work, are brought to the entrance.
The gate is now removed; the wild ell
ephant rushes out till brought to stop
by the ropes fastened to his hind legs.
Then the tame ones place themselves
on each side of him. Men get on the
tame beasts, and secure the collars of
all three together. During this oper-
alton, the wild one generally uses every
means to injure those who are engaged
in fastening him. He cndeavors to
strike them with his trunk or with his
head. But his tame friends watch ev-
cry movement, gently lower his trunk
with theirs, and, if he is very obsti-
nate and wicked, batter him with their
heads till he is subdued.
This accomplished, the nooses are
taken from his hind legs, and the ele-
phant is marched along, in pompous
procession, betweenhis two tame breth
rem, to the stall prepared for his re-
ception. Here his head and his feet
are secured to large trees and to stakes
planted in the ground, and supported
in part by the trees; and this done,
the tame elephants are led off to take
the charge of another prisoner.
10 secure one hundred and seventy
elephants IS a labor of several days.
From twenty to thirty per day is the
greatest number which can be taken
from one exit lane. Meantime, the
balance must be fed regularly, and
this tn is labor requiring many hands.
thus several hundred men are employ
cd for some days in waiting upon the
necessities Of the beasts.
1t is said, by those who have seen
them in such circumstances, that the
grief or distress Of the elephant is very
affecting to view. "Their plaintiye
cries have all the expression Of sorrow,
rage, resentment, and despair. Often,
after they are bound to the trees and
stakes in the forest set apart for their
reception, finding every effort ineirec.
tual even to disengage single limb,
the hollow eyes fill with tears, and the
countenance wears an aspect of the
deepest melancholy"
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ToMorro,y