The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-12-24
Miscellaneous.
Story of an Elephant.

Elephants have decided liking formiltary
lie. Various regiments whilst servinein the
east have had such an animal. which often
rendered good service to the corps to which
| he might be attached. The kings rangers
at one time were in possession of a fine male
OF enormous size, which for many years was
never once absent from parade. As soon as
the bugIe sounded, he would walk maicsti
cally to the place of muster, and take up his
position at the right Of the column. If the
mahout or driver presented himself. the elc-
phant would lift him on TO his shoulders by
means of his trunk, and evidently without
lhe slightest effort to himself; but, if left to
his own unaided intelligence, he obeyed the
ordinary words of command without ever
making mistake, such as: "Right face"
March," Mark time" "Halt." He in
sisted at all times on giving help to the men
whenever they were engaged in loading or
unloading baggage, and was evidently
pleased to be allowed to make himself gem
orally useful. When the wagons were i'm
peded on the march, as it not unfrequentlv
happened, Jock was duly sensible of his
own Importance, for by lis enormous
strength he would push heavy load up n
steep pecevity, which six or eight oxen
failed to do without his assistance.
1t happened that the rangers were sudden
~ ordered to embark for China and there
was no accommodation for taking Jock on
shlpboard To the great disappointment
OF the men, the authorities decided that he
should be left in India. He was, however.
permitted to accompany the regiment as far
as the quay,to watch the troops as they went
on board, ,many of whom had parting word
OF kindness for their old comradc. Good
by, Old man'-"poor old Jock"-were re-
peated, with many variations, both by
officers and men. Meanwhile the animal
watched the proceedings with great appar-
ent interest, as wondering when his turn
would come to go on board. But when the
vessel steamed off and left him ashore, he
became frantic with rage and disappoint-
ment 1t had been proposed that he should |
be transferred to another corps, but lie most |
persistently refused to have anything to do |
with it, Neither the coaxng nor the threats
OF his mahout were of any avail. Though |
he had previously manifested the gentlest |
disposition, he now threateringly withstood |
all kindly advances on the part of his would |
be comrades, and at length so savage did he |
become that it was deemed expedient to
place him in confinement. Even the ma
hout himself was several times placed in
a very awkward predcament, and on one
occasion barely escaped with his life. No
means could be found to assuage the grief or
to calm the anger Of this faithful creature,
who so constantly mourned the loss of his
friends. But in less than two years the
Rangers came back to their old quarters, and
were informed of the melancholy change
which had come over their old comrade.
mo go neer-no touch, sahib he strike
hard, ," said the mahout she kill"
"Why Jock, my boy" said a young off
Ger, formerly one of his special friends,
'why, what's the matter?"
The animal pricked up his ears and in
stanty recognized the voice, which was
proved by his maniiesting unmistakabc
signs and sounds of joy, 1t was quite ai-
fecting to see, when once more he was per-
mittcd freely to repair to the parade ground,
with what kindly recognition he embraced
many of his companions, placing his trunk
tonderly on their neck and shoulders.
need hardly say he was at once renstated in
his old regmental post, the duties of which
he recommended to discharge as if no inter
ruption had taken place Chambers Jour
udl