The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23

bit them. At last his mouth was badly burned,
and 1t was not till then that tho circus men had
fairly cowcd him to submission"
Well. what about Emperor" interrupted the
reporter: Did not tue red-hot iron cause MN
why, certainly 1t did at the time. and one Of
the Keepers says that the animal has eaten
nothing since Monday. He is, however. getting
altogether. You see the inside OF the ele-
phant's trunk is a thick knot OF muscles in
rings, harder than the toughest leather and all
that the iron did was to hurt him badly for the
time but. what was more important. IL warned
him for tho future that 1t might bo applied
Is l. it usual to punish elephants in this man
mo; have mover known OF nm instance Of
this sort but such punishment Is frequent with
lions and tigers. When animals are being
TO death, Then the trainer begins by feeding
them little by little entering their cages all the
time. He is armed generally with an iron bar
skulking behind him ho gives him one blow on
,he head With his iron onr, which knocks the
of trcachery. the tanner provides himself with
tho red iron, and at any moment that the amt
NAL shows fight 1t Is driven into him That
What IL this cage craze that YOU speak OFF,"
II IL madness You have no idea how sud-
denly II comes upon the animals IL is natural.
Why, Just imagine 80 many strong. muscular.
healthy men being cnged year after year. III is
l have watched animals at night, and seen them
nt times getting the craze upon them. ~ irst
they remain quito still ~ II they arc trying TO
suppress their rage. Then they will suddenly
break out in ungovornable fury. and at such
times menageri9 at night ia no pleasant place
to be In They will roar spring at the bars OF
their Cages. try and tear them asunder, and
create such a terror among the other animals
that II Is necessary to use iorce to subdun tho
exciting animal into quiet Or course. NJ such
times the red iron must be applied when cir
Gus troupe Is travelling through the country"
How do they usually punish olephantsf"
When they are In training the animals are
shown how easily they can bo overcome by
means OF straps; An elephant TINT has once
/ been thrown will become generally manage
! able Keepers however. can stand no foollng
| from their animals and II tho prong or spenr
| the roprs and pul!eys. This consists in tying
| ropes around the brutes legs and pulling them
! far apart Then the beasts are perfectly power;
| lrss. and lie on their bellies mass OF tortured
| flesh. Then the keepers will bent them with
| clubs until they squeaL Elephants, however,.
are tho hrnNcst and most enduring OF animals,
| ns they are also the proudest. They will almost
| stand being beaten TO death rather than squeal
| for they know that II thoy once do even their
! mates Will hold them in contempt"
| Since the denial by the authorities Of the pun
| shing of the elephant, the reporter has visited
tue keeper. He has a wife and family and
| knows that he will be dismissed II the officers
OF Mr.. Bergh's society should make compla mt
against him. In that event. he and his family
| might stnrve to death. while the beast WAS pro-
| tected. He Is a good. honest, ktnd-hearted
! keeper VINO can ordinarily hundle. by volceh
! hand the most savage brute. and who could
vouch for the entire truth OF the story published
| in The SUN. but that he fears that for telling
/ llt llNlu nc may Dt uioHll2Hth anu MS nanny
| bcggared.
one Of the attaches Of Barnum's show said
| yesterday that the only thing 20 be regretted
was that Emperor was not given more of the
! hot iron. for the animal i still unsub inrd.
and may yet kill somebody. Only few days
ago the elephant seized one Of It's keepers and
| hurled him through door. The keeper II in
| daily fear Of being thrown against u wall and
| killed. The Snowman added that the hot-ir0n
| treatment WAS rcsorted 20 only when It was
| deemed absolutely necessnry to protect the lives
| Of the men by subduing tho animals; and he
did not regard II a. cruelty to do this.
Suppose that Mr. Bereh should effect the
dismissal Of tho offending keeper" said this
| experienced circus man. His successor would
naturally be afraid 10 apply the punishment
| which. by common consent, is alono considered
| effe,tual in the case Of mAddened brutes Sup
| pose thnt Emperor. for instance. should again
be aroused into one OF these furious outbursts.
and should kill one or more o. his Keepers.
| Who would be responsible for the dcath Of the
| menl But suppose the outbreak should occur
| during u public exhibitionl God knows what
r"rcr I ia hut one q eihuHitd, SsmrlqilaT lqil Mat En-;
| nothing Of other BEASTS. any one ~ whlch ~
| likely to become uurontrulahle at Nny moment,
| unless with the wholesome Tear of punishment
| brfore him. OF course the heast might he
killed nt tho first outbreak. but that would put
speedy end to all Geological collections.