The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-07-15
Story Of an Elephant.
Chambers Journal. !

Elephants have decided liking for 9
military life. Various regiments while
serving in the East have had such an an.
imal, which often rendered good service
to the corps to which he might be at
tached.
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
bugles sounded he would walk majestic.
ally to the place of muster, and take up
his position, always at the right of the
column.
If the mahout, or driver, presented
himself the elephant would lift him up
onto his shoulders with his trunk, and
evidently without the slightest effort to
himself; but If left to his own unaided
intelligence, he obeyed the ordinary
words of command without ever making
mistake as, Right face y
"March % "Mark timew "Halt !" and
50 on.
He insisted at all times on giving helr
to the men whenever they engaged in
loading or unloading baggage, and was
pleased to be allowed to make himself
useful.
When the wagons were impeded on
march, as not unfrequently occurred.
Jock was duly sensible of his own impor.
lance, for, by his enormous strength, lie
would push heavy load up steep de-
clivity, which six or eight oxen failed to
do unassisted.
1t happened that the rangers were sud-
denly ordered to embark for China, and
there were no accommodations for taking
Jock on shipboard. To the great disap:
pointment of the men, the authorities
decided 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 hoard,
many of whom had parting word OF
kindness for their old comrade.
"Good-by, old manW "Poor old Jock p
were repeated, with many variations, by
both officers and men.
Meanwhile the animal watched the
proceedings with great apparent interest,
as if wondering when his own turn would
come to 60 on board but when the yes.
sci 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 he
persistently refused to have anything to
do with it. Neither the coaxing nor
the threats of his mahout were of any
avail.
Though he had previously manifested
the gentlest disposition, he now threat
eningly repealed all kindly advances on
the part Of his new comrades, and at
length he became SO savage that it was
deemed expedient to place him in con-
finement. Even the mahout was several
times placed in very awkward predica-
ment, 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
little less than two years the rangers
came back to their old quarters, and were
informed of the melancholy change in
their old comrade.
|" No 60 near no touch, sahib he
strike very hard" said the mahout, che
killp
Why, Jock, my boy" said young
officer, formerly one of his special friends,
"why, what's the matterW
The animal pricked up his ears, and
instantly recognized the voice, which
was proved by his manifesting unmis-
taxable signs and sounds of joy.
1t was quite affecting to see, when he
was once more permitted to repair to the
parade ground, with what kindly recog-
milton he embraced many of his COM
panions, placing his trunk tenderly on
their necks and shoulders.
l need hardly say he was at once rein
stated in his old regimental post, the du-
ties of which he recommended to dis
charge as if no interruption had taken
place.