The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-04-09
WASHINGTON ISLAND.
A NEW SENSATION.

Mr.. Adam Forepaugb, the great animal
importer and menagerie proprietor, has,
after three years of unremitting effort and
an expenditure Of more than 100000 sue
ceeded in obtaining an.animal never be-
held in any civilized country, ana only ut
rare intervals seen in that distsnt and
heather phrt of the world which it in
habits. in numbers 30 small that not more
ahan four are known to exist; and they
are owned by couple of "bar baric kings"
and are objects of worship throughout
their several Kingdoms. The animal 1e-
ferred to is WHITE ELEPHANT. In 1871
Mr. Forepaugh commenced negotiations
through the United States consul at Siam,
for the purchase of a white elephant, the
king having two of these wonderful anil
mails at his palace ..t
An offer of $4,000 in geld was made
to the king for one of his white elephants.
1t was Refused; aud the United States con-
sui wrote Mr.. Forepaugh, "That while
he was aware that the word impossible
was, not believed in by his countrymen in
America, he would say that he considered
the purchase Of white elephant alt1gesh
er in,practicable. " ...-.. l.,. Ia4 Ia-t
The reader will see by the following
extracts from work recently published
by Frank Vincent Jr., entitled "the Land
of the White Elephant" &c, that the con-
sui was fully justified in asserting the i'm
practicability of Mr.. Forepaughs OBJ
tanning white elephant Abiding to
one he saw at MandaDay. Burmah, Mr..
Vincent remarks: .sr ss s.,a....
HE was vicious brute, chained by the
fore legs, and was surrounded with the
adjuncts of royalty'-gold and white cloth
umbrellas, an embroidered canopy above,
and some bundles of spears in the corners
of the room The attendants SAID that a
young one, captured in the northeastern
part of British Burmah, near Tounghoo,
had recently died, after short residence
in the capital, aud that the king had been
out Of sorts ever since. This animal was
suekled By tsoel0e aoonaen, hired fer tho eG :,
press purpcss. These elephant 'wet-nurses'
thought il q great honor TO serve in such
capacity & .asuaaE 44asl n.s4 ..4s
Again: in: Father sangermsno's de-
scription of the Burmese empire we have
interesting accounts ofthe capture,trans-
portation to the capital, and more than
royal treatment Of the white elephant !:
how, when caught IN the forests of Pegu,
| it was bound with scarlet eords.and wait
ed upon by the highest mandarins ct the
empire how, the place where it was
taken being infested with mosquitoes,
a silkcn net was made to protect it from
them how it wac transported to Amara-
poora in q boat, havinga pavilion ireped
/ with gold embroidered silk, and covered
with o roof similar to ihos, covering
the royal palace, how, on. its arrival In
the city, q gradd festival, continuing for
three days, was celebrated in it's honor,
and hsw the most costly presents. were
brought to Ii by the mandariAs, enc offer
ing vase Ut gold weighing $50 ounces.
This animal was honored no less at It's
demise than during life Being female,
it's funeral was conducged with The same
forms and rites 10 those practiced at the
death Of : queen. The bsdy was burned
upon q pile Of sssafra.. sandal. and other
aromatic woads.the pyre being fired with
the aid Of four immense gilt bellows
placed as ito corners. Three days after
ward it's ashes are gathered by the chief
andarins. enshrinedain4 gilt urns, and
Iburiedsinashe royal cemetery: A superb
mausolean. Of . pyramidal shape, bailt
OF brick, richly painted and gilt, was sub
sequeatly raised over the tomb. If this
elephant had been . mals,lt would have
been inferred With .hs same ceremonial
= eTeat fsts44fE MatA sHateA3 $50 M8aW NA5A