Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-26
An ELEPHANT lnSDects q Bridge.

The Montreal Star says the well known
sagacity of the elephant had q somewhat
remarkable cXempliiicatiol, at ST. John, in
the Province of Quebec, OH Saturday
morning last, in which the immense Cey.
Ion elephant. belonging to Campbehs
Mcnagcric and Circus, which was to exhibit
in Montreal, was tho hero. We will pre-
misc our statement with tho fact that, a few
weeks since, while travelling from Water
bury TO No1t!iirld, in the state OF Vermont,
this elephant il, crossing q bridge, over a
creek, crushed the floor with his enormous
weight, and fell partly through, his fore
quarters only remaining on the bridge By
this accident he was famed for several days,
but not sufficiently to prevent him from
travelling. When he was brought to the
long Bridge, over the I,ichelieu River, ut
st. Johns, he evidently retained vivid re-
collection Of this mishnp,and neither coax
ing, threats persuasion, nor force, could
induce him to budgo OH inch on tho, to
him, perilous structure. Nor does it mp
pear that his apprehensions were nnfound-
ed-for the proprietors of the bridge no.
tilted the menagerie managers that they
were dubious Of the capacity Of the
structure to uphold tho weight
Of the elephant, and if they crossed him
IlltJ wv ~ ttC UHCiI wv III iiSh. lC
morning was rather chilly, and us they did
not wish to risk his health by swimming,
they concluded to make tho venture. The
band chariot and an enormous den Of per-
forming lions were started on ahead of
him, i'll order to give him confidence, and
when he saw that they were safely over,
he was induced to follow, which
no did very slowly, testing each
plank and timber with his fore feet
and trunk as he progressed. Whenever he
discovered any Of the timbcrs to be defcc-
tive he would CROSS over the division to tho
opposite roadway, and would so progress
until he came to another doubtful place,
when he would cross back again. He
| worked along in this way until he had
come moro than half way over, when he
became Suspicious that neither road was
safe, and started rapidly back, driving back
q long den of cages that were follow
ing, and clearing the bridge for the space
of ten or more rods. At this juncturc n
flock of sheep came running past him, and
lie vented his Spleen hy picking; them up
one by one With his trunk anu throwing
them into the river until he had disposed
Of seven in this way. lie was finally in
drccd to go on, and after having been
moro than two hours in crossing, az
y
by over two thousand people, and the ut
most excitement prevailed.
A CLERICAL. ANEtDoTE. Some thirty-five
or forty years ago, q Mr.. Williams. cler-
rynlan OF the old school, somewhat ccccn-
trio, came to Salem from the country to
| exchange desks with one Of his brethren in
tho ministry. During the Sabbath noon
intermission he sud to his daughter:
Il am going to lie down. If st. Paul
himself comes, don't disturb me.
Mr.. Bertly, who preached in the East
Church, who had been very intimate with
Mr.. Williams, but had not seen him for
several years, hearing that he was Ill town,
hurried off, after dinner, to make his old
friend call.
"Where is Brother Williams 2" he inquir.
ed, rs he met the ,l:,nghtor
Gle can't DO disturbed, sir, oven if st.
Paul should call"
81 must sec him !" vas the inpatient re-
jonlcr, in the inimitablc manner of Mr.
Bentley.
Resistance to such q mast waa ont of the
question. Tho room of Tic sleeper WIS in
v;.'l''l, and with no gentle shake and II
ctrr spending, vn'", Mr. Williams wis
aroused. Iio vas delighted to sec his old
| friend I'rnt'"y, rrit"mtinG with tcrvcncy
| his qualification.
81 think, E"tllcr Williams, that you arc
| II little inrnlsiSt"nt."
"IInw So, FRO! '.cr H"nth'yt"
'Di'ln't you t'II >"nr daughter you were
not to J." diGilrI,"t ven ii ST. Paul called Z
yet you s""',, very dad to sec mo.
"No, no, brother; not inconsistent ut nll.
| was am !!ln,i I" 50" You. The Apostle
Paul why, hope to spend blessed ctcr-
nifty wiz, him; bat you, Hrotllcr Bcntly--I
never expect to sec you ngain.