Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-04
An ELEPHANTINE YOLnNTEER

Elephants have decided liking for mill
tary life. Various regiments while serving
in the East have had such an animal,
which often rendered good service to corps
to which he might be attached. The Kings
Rangers at one time were in possession of
fine male of enormous size, which for
many years was never once absent from
parade. As soon as the bngles sounded he
would walk maiestically to the place of
muster, and take up his position at the right
of the column. If the mahOut or driver
presented himself, the elephant would lift
him on to his shoulders by means OF his
trunk, and evidently without the slight
est effort to himself; but if left to his own
unaided intelligence, he Obeyed the Ordi-
nary words of command without ever
making a mistake, such as "Right face"
"March, y SHARK time" "Halt. BE insisted
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 gen
orally useful. When the wagons were i'm
peded on the march, as it not unfrequently
happened, Jock was duly sensible his own
Importance, for by his enormous strength he
would push heavy load up steep activity
which six or eight OXens failed to do with
out his assistance.
1t appeared that the Rangers were sud-
denly ordered to embark for China, and
there was no accommodation for taking
Jock on shipbOaTd. To the great disap-
pointment of the men, the authorities de-
cided that he should be left in India.
He was, however, permitted TO accom-
pany the regiment as far as the quay, to
watch the troops as they went on board,
many of whom had a parting word of
kindness for their old cOmrade. ''GOOd-
bye, old man." "POOT old jock" were
repeated with many variations both by
officers and men. Meanwhile the animal
watched the proceedings with great ap-
parentinterest, as if wondering when his
own turn would come to 90 on board.
But when the vessel steamed of and left
him ashore, he became frantic with rage
and disappointment. It had been pro-
posed that he should be transferred to an
other corps, but he most persistently re-
fused to have anything to do with it.
Neither the coaxing nor the threats Of
his mahCut were Of any avail. Though
he had previously manifested the gen.
tlest disposition, he now threateningly
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. No
| means could be found to assuage the grief
or to calm the anger Of this faithful crea-
ture, who so constantly mOurned the loss Of
his friends. But in little less than two
years the Rangers came back to their old
quarters, and were informed Ct the melan-
cholY change which had come over theirOl
comrade.
"No 90 near, no touch sahib; he strike
hard" said the mahout; she kill"
"Wby, Jock, my bey," said young Off
Ger, formerly one Of his special friends,
"Why, what's the matter"
The animal pricked up his ears, and in
stantly recognized the voice, which was
proved by his manifesting unmistakable
| signs and sounds Of joy. 1t was quite
| affecting to see, when once more he was
permitted freely to repair to the parade
ground, with what kindly recogni-
! ton he embraced many of his companions,
placing his trunk. tenderly on their necks
! and shoulders. 1 need hardly to say that
he was at once reinStated in his old regi-
mental post, the duties of which he re-
commenced to discharge as if no Interrupt
| ton had taken place.