The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-07-06
THE ELEPHANT AND THE INDIANS.
What the Young Braves got by Mid
ding with the Father of the Animals.
From the Kansas City Bulletin.1

Ihe Deautlful Indian village OF Potta-
watomie, situated on the Neosho river, in
the State of Kansas, was the theatre Of
an intensely exciting but wholly unavoid-
able occurrence On the night Of Sunday,
May 81. The mammoth menagerie and
circus of old John Robinson was the great
centre of attraction. The attonishment
and curiosity was great when the gigan-
tic proportions of old Emperor burst up
on their view. Everything passed off
quietly, and on Sunday evening, the
weather and water being warm, Robinson
determined to let old Emperor enjoy the
luxury of bath in the river. Accord
ingly, between the hours of and 6 p. M,
Prof. Buel, the keeper, was directed to
bring him down to the stream. The In
dians, to the number of twenty or thirty,
were noticed watching the process of un-
fastening the chains which secured the
elephant with the closest scrutiny, the
object of which will shortly be seen.
As soon as he was unfettered and be-
gan to move, it seemed as if the tocsin Of
war had sounded from every wigwam,
hut, and cabin they swarmed forth, young
and old, as strange and fantastic-looking
crowd of humanity as was ever seen be-
fore ; and it was certainly as much Of a
show to the showmen as it was to the
half naked crowds of savages themselves.
The wild and excited shouts Of the child
ren, the shrill and discordant cries of the
squaws, the deep toned gutteral exclama-
tions of the warriors and braves, created
bedlam Of sounds which never was nor
can be heard outside Of an Indian village
Old Emperor made up his mind to en-
Joy himself, and moved on with slow and
majestic tread toward the stream, seeming
to care for naught but the commands Of
his keeper. As he neared the bank of
the river, without waiting to receive the
command he plunged boldly in and began
disporting himself with the greatest de-
light, rolling and plunging from side to
side, sucking up great quantities of wa
ter, and blowing it out through his huge
preboscis in great columns, twenty or
thirty feet high, allowing it to fall in
showers of spray upon and all around him.
The sight of this to the Indians was truly
marvellous. After remaining in the wa
ter till dark he was conducted back to
camp, and secured for the night, the
crowd in the mean time following, and
watching the entire proceedings closely.
The Indians slowly disappeared and
sought their wigwams for the night, and
the showmen also sought to obtain rest.
1t is customary with all well-regulated
menagere and circus companies to en-
ploy man as watchman, and to him is
intrusted the business of awakening the
company in the morning, to be in readi-
ness for breakfast and an early start on
the road, and to his care is also commit
ted the entire establishment through the
night.
About midnight the watchman, wish
ing to receive some information in regard
to starting in the morning, stepped over
to the hotel where Mr.. Robinson was
quartered, and while engaged in conversa-
ton with him an awful, unearthly howl
resounded through the halls of the hotel,
followed by series of cries, groans, and
before. In an instant the doors of the
different rooms were hurriedly opened by
the terrified inmates, windows thrust up,
and frightened faces looked wildly out.
The women aud children uttering pit
eous walls of terror, crouched covering
down near the men with pale and fright
ened countenances, crying, "W hat is it?"
care We attacked by Indians 2" "Will
they come here Y' "Oh, we shall all be
murdered !" The scene was enough to
make the stoutest heart quake with fear
Mr.. Robinson, quickly comprehcnding
the matter, sprang from the room and or
dered every man to come out, as he was
certain that some Of the animals had brok-
en- loose. Upon emerging from the house
it was at first supposed that the entire
village was on fire for it was nearly as
light as day, caused by the vast number
of torches that were blazing through the
encampment.
The noise and din seeming to grow
louder each instant and being in the In
dian portion of the town, they hurriedly
made their way thither, and upon sudden
ly turning corner they beheld a sight
they will never forget. In the foreground
was the huge form of old Emperor upon
whose back were perched half dozen
warriors, shouting and gesticulating wild,
ly to their brethren below, while at inter
walls of half a minute horried yell would
ring out upon the night air, followed by
huge columns of smoke aud dust, aud
then could be heard the shrill trumpetiug
of the elephant as uttered when enraged
or in pain. On every side lay the ruins
of the once peaceful homes of the In-'
dians.
As the showmen were preparing to res
cue Emperor, crash went his huge trunk,
and an entire wigwam was seen flying
through the air, while from the clouds OF
dust and heaps of rubbish could be seen
the naked forms of some ha'f dozen
squaws and children regalning conscious
ness, and darting away through the woods
with frightful yells of terror. The scene