The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-08-14
Escape of the Hippopotamus.

fled with the landlords generosity.
Escape Of the Hippopotamus.
1huty-7 thousand Dollars Gone at One Plunge
We learn by private telegram from Detroit,
that the great Hipppotamus attached to the
| Combination Show" which exhibited here last
week, has made his escape.
This animal, together with his friend the big
elephant, was placed on board the propeller S.
ID. Caldwell here on Sunday night-it being inn
practicable to convey them by railroad--and
embarked for Detroit. A place was arranged
on deck for their accommodation went a.
long smoothly until Sunday morning. when
within some six or eight miles of the mouth of
the Detroit river, where the hippppotamus, TAX
ing it into his head that he would enjoy a bit
of swim, walked through the bulwarks as if
| they were nothing more than barriers Of brown
paper, and foundered in to the water-and thus
| disappeared $4,000 at one plunge. The pro-
peller was "hoyc to-" and remained near the
spot for over an hour, but sshippy" was not seen
| again. small boat containing Ali, his keeper,
and some assistants, was left to continue the
search, but we no not learn that they got sight
of the animal
A rumor prevailed that the monster had sub
sequently been captured on the shore near NAL
den, but we do not know what credence it is
| entitled to. For the sake of his owners-to
whom the loss wonld be most serious one
we hope it may be true
HOW THE mPPoPoTAMUs WAS CAPTURED.
| The Detroit Free Press gives the following
details of the capture Of the Hippopotamus
which escaped from a steamer into the Detroit
| river: tss
During the voyage it was noticed that the
animal continually looked longingly towards
| the water, as though he would have given one
OF his eye teeth for plunge into the depth of
the lake and ramble about its unexplored bot
tom. No one supposed however, that he would
yield to his amphibious tastes, and so no extra
| watch was set upon him. ~ s,Daft
| As the steamer neared the city, and when
about three miles below the fort crash and
| then splash. were heard from the side of the
bow toward the American shore. Everybody
rushed to the spot. The place where the hip
popotamus had been confined was empty. The
beast, no longer able to resist the temptation,
had burst his bonds and plunged into the river,
resolved on an aquatic excursion. The own
er, who was on board, looked the picture of
of despair. Forty thousand dollars, to say Moth
ing of large amount of prospective profits,
had suddenly vamoosed. As for Ali, the E.
gyptain keeper, he was nearly frantic. In a
few moments, however, the monstrous head Of
the huge beast appeared above the water. A
general shout arose, and Ali was with great
difficulty prevented from jumping overboatd in
pursuit of his companion and beloved pc. while
a boat was lowered, into which he jumped and
rowed toward the beast, who swan in an extacy
of delight.
AS the Egyptian commenced calling him fa-
miliar names at the sound Of his voice the mon
ster stopped, looked around, and seemed to
wait for the boat to near him, but Just as it APP
peared within reaching distance the hippopota-
mus gave plunge and once more disappeared,
leaving whirlpool of seething water to mark
the spot where he had gone down.--Nothing
was seen of him now for a long time, and they
were about giving him up for lost, when he
suddenly made his appearance about one hun
dred yards off but nearer the shore than at
first Ali again rowed towards him, calling
him as before, but again the beast lodged him,
diving to the bottom of the river. Ali now
made large circle with his boat, in hopes of
taking him by surprise, as ha came up to breathe,
but, as if aware Of his intentions, the hippopo-
tamus rose at long distance off and looked at
his master cunningly and with an expression
which seemed to say, tsNo you don't"
For the third time Ali started in pursuit
with result similar to that which had attend
ed his other attempts to re-capture his pet.
When he went down the third time, Ali paused,
evidently completely nonplussed, and seemingly
overcome by grief and despair. In a second,
however he seized the oars and rowed toward
the steamer. ''Try de tog," he shouted, as he
came alongside; "gib me de tog!"
A large black mastif which had been trained
to sleep in the cage of the hippopotamus, and
for whom he has evinced for long time much
affection, had been keeping up a continual how
ling from the time his companion had escaped,
was now loosened, and he instantly plunged in
to the river and swan after Ali as he moved
off. In about minute the hippppotamus again
seeing him, the dog gave a wild bark and swan
in his direction very rapidly, Ali accompanying
him in the boat At last the dog reached the
monster, and with series Of barks commenced
swimming around the animal, and finally
struck out for the shore, the hippopotamus fol-
lowing.
The interest excited by this scene was intense
which continued to increase until the dog and
hippopotamus reached the American shore safe
ty. Ali was not long AFTER and the animal
was no sooner on tara jama than the Egyptian,
armed with a small rawhide, which he had ta-
ken with him, jumped on the beach, going to
the animal spoke a few words in the Egyptian
tongue, gave him few smart cuts over his
ponderons rump with the raw hide and drove
him without further difficulty to place of safe
ty, where he was at once secured and the proper
means adopted to have him brought to this city,
where he now is, in fine condition after his frol-
ic beneath the waves. 85