East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-06-22
Origin Of aseeing the Elephant."


was to be had. The "wild beasts"
were all travelling, and the property
man, stage director and manager al-
most had fits when they Thought oft
Days passed in the hopeless task of
trying TO secure one; but at last Yam
kee ingenuity triumphed, as indeed it
alwas does, and an elephant was made
to order, of wood, skins, paint and
varnish. Thus far the matter was all
very well but as yet they found no
means to make said combination trav-
ell Here again the genius of the
manager. stage director and property
stuck out and two "broths" were
duly installed as legs. Ned c.
one of the true and genuine "b'hoys,"
held the station of fore legs, and for
several nights he played the heavy
part to the entire satisfaction of the
managers and great delight of the au-
dience.
The part, however, was a very te-
dious one, as the elephant was obEg-
ed to be on the stage about an hour,
and Ned was rather too fond of the
bottle to remain so long without wet
ting his whistle, so he set his wits to
work to carry wee drop with him
The eyes Of the elephant being made
Of two porter bottles, with the necks
in, Ned conceived the brilliant idea of
filing them with good stuff This he
fully carried out, and elated with sue
cess, he willingly undertook to play
forelegs again.
Night came on-the theatre was
densely crowded with the citizens of
the Quaker City-the music was play
ed in the sweetest strains the curtain
rose and the play began. Ned and
"hind legs" marched upon the stage.
The elephant was greeted with round
upon round of applause. The deco
rations and trappings were gorgeous.
The elephant and the prince seated
upon his back were loudly cheered.
was marched round. and round the
stage. The fore-legs treated the hind
legs, and then drank the health of the
audience in bumper of genuine ete-
phant eye whisky, a brand, by the way
till then unknown. On went the play
and on went the drinking. The con-
clusion march was to be made the
signal was given, and the fore legs
staggered towards the front of the
stage. The conductor pulled the ears
of the elephant to the right-the fore
legs staggered to the left. The foot
lights obstructed the way, and hc
raised his foot and stepped plump into
the orchestra.
Down went the fore legs on Tho
leaders fiddle; over, of course, turned
the elephant, sending the prince anc
hind legs into the middle of the pit
The managers stood horror struck
the prince and hind legs lay confoun
, dcd, the boxes in convulsions, the ac
tors choking with laughter, and poo
, Ned casting one look, a strange blend
| ing of drunkenness, grief and laugh
ter at the scene, fed hastily out of th'
| door, closely followed by the leader
) with the wreck of his fiddle, perform
{ ing various cut and thrust motions IL
the air. The curtain dropped on
, scene behind the scenes. No NOR
, pageant-no more fore legs-but ev
. erybody held their sides. Music, &c
: tors, pit, boxes, and gallery, rushe'
/, from the theatre shrieking betweel
5 every breath, "Hare you seen the eL
: phant ?"--Mmer's Journal
PETER NAvvRRE--It appears b
a the report of tho Congressional Com
: mittee, to whom was referred the pc
i tition for a pension of Peter Navarro
l. that he is grandson of Robert d
7 Navarro, intendant and sub-delegu
; of Detroit, in the territory which no'
d constitutes the State Of Michigan, du
: ring the reign of Louis Nv; that sal
l. PEPPER Navarro served under Generi
y Hull, as scout, on the Northwestern
n frontier; that he was among the pri'
q oners at Hull's surrender at Detroi
II and was sent home on parole; afteI
i wards broke his parole; served unde
J. Gen. Winchester at River Raisir
q gave him early information of the al
II proach of the British army, took pa
l. in both actions of Col. Lewis on tf
IS 18th of January, 1872, and the ei
q gagement of the next day, resultin
IS in the defeat of the Americans; thu
s at Major Madison's surrender, findin
n himself, by violation of his parole,
II a position in which life was forfeite
q he escaped from the British and Ind
4 ans, incurring great hardships #
n many DAYS in mid winter in travelir
ar through the wilderness, returning
1T his home that Gen. Harrison, cor
ing into the Northwest with his arm
10 sent for pioneers and engaged hi
ig as a scout until the close Of the wa
re for the sum of one dollar per day.
id He was frequently sent by Gen. Ha
w rison, while in this service, with me
), sages from one point to another
'i- one occasion going on foot to Urban
ss in Southern Ohio, through the W
%. derness, with message to Govern
'rt Meigs, and again, on the day precee
ing the battle of Lake Erie, carryii
message from Gen. Harrison,
Fort Seneca, to Commodure Perry;
~ Put -in-bay; that he was present a
- aided in the defence of Fort Stephe
as son, under Col Crogan, and acco
~ panied the army on its march in pr
- suit of Proctor, and took part in
,s battle of the Thames. He is m
~ poor and old, being in his seven
sss @ ninth year, and, in consequence
I ~ disabilities, occasioned by long I
ad posure while engaged in tho ardue
ehr and exposed service, is, and has be
for number Of years, unable to p
:. cure liveheod for himself and faI
Id ly. A pension of eight dollars
, ~ month, during his life, was gran
es' by the House.
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