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

now in winter quarters in Central Park since |
the publication Of the article. its accuracy has
been questioned. and the following has been re-
ceived at this Office:
TnE ASrRicAs socrrrr my
PREVENTION O' oSSsl9 Sw 9cnS. nS March H. is7s
s EPoS % m .S headed % ABOVE and an
officer q this society was Immediately detailed to inves
a careful examination OF Al the elephant. n Central
officer aud not the Slightest sign amy such outrage
dsGoyerSd Nj pswo , ,ge %s. So 81 wers 4s
truth the article from beginning to eud As this 50
Ing attention to the alleged brutal act please publish THIS
TnoSAs W uARrrirLp. supt
The Epenino Post. doubtless upon the author
Ity OF Mr.. Bergh's society also had this para
graph;
"Tho SuS yesterday published story Of revolving cru
city which described hos the keeper Of an elephant ~
poker up its trunk. The savage unishncnt nearly
S9aGG e G n5t 6meS nc s " looked .a ali I The Sc
kccpers since then the elephant has been unable oeaH
lacd trunk wherever there Is cool sro IN the she'd,
to the report this mcTning he sel thet such brutality
Mona on ~ MO W1s."nsans TO institute an Sn oi ,he
matter which VIII now be nCc.s q. ~ 9in,,,f 9,tnS %, tnS
Central ralk YESTERDAY. examined the keepers IN qucs
and The sufcrntcndent examined the elephant and
pronounced the report utterly false"
Tho elephants in Central Park form part Of
the collection Of animals belonging to tho p. T.
Barnum Circus Company. They. with numer-
Gus other animals. including lions tigers. leop-
ards. graffes camels the property OF tho same
circus company. are received at the Park at the
closing Of the season. The company during the
winter months, until the opening OF the season
In spring employ their own assistants to takc
charge OF and feed the animals. The Keepers
are all men OF great experience in the manage
ment OF animals. and are untirng in their
watchfulness.
The elephant house is situated in the wide
space fronting the museum in the Arsenal
building at Sixty-iourth street and Fifth ave-
nue.. IL Is one Of n series of long shed-like
buildings. with glass windows In front. very
narrow door leading 70 4. and very red stove
10y their mind feet TO staples in the WA are the
elephants. six ,2r seven In number. ana
! OF all sizes. The larger ones are So dis
posed rs to avoid unnecessary crowling
Day and might the animals stand IN that mar
ROW outhouse during tho four winter months.
They are a source Of great interest to the thou
sands of visitors who stand outside and watch
| the animals swaying TO and fro. lifting their
| feet hour after hour. and at times. as II impa-
tieni at their confinement tossing their trunks
restl'ssly about.
Every night for the past year n representative
OF the SUS has, in accoriance with his duties,
| has passed by the elephant house twice every
| night He is thoroughly acquainted with the
management Of tho animals. and has personal
acquaintance with several OF the keepers. As
| about quarter past .. the elephants are
receiving the last attentions from their keep
srsily quiet; m " soms Of Of them them lie "t stretched IN
huge. cumbersome masses on the floor Al
other times, however. the shouts OF the Keepers
and the clanking Of the chains can be heard for
o1ist i"phant honso psse @ Al, piGpisb tne % usually W
imals are all standing up and restlessly stamp
| ing their feet. This is cnused 10y one of them
heinz what a Keeper calls cra@ed by con-
Th- reporter has personally, witnessed, and
! There are Park officers who have witnessed
| such combats between keeper and animal Al
| such times tho animal SO nh,'icd goes 70 ulr
| Length of his bit ~ chain. and pushes win gu
| his strength against his near comuanion' h,
latter az first takes this quietly. but rs thn on rt
| cont nues, he rrsists. and then me struggle
| unless stopped by instant ,aul srVere means
| might he dangerous; for ehuuli ihr .lrpuhhl, =
| soa keeper put n. once E't hll crnl"d toErih.f,
| liw-ily CONSTRUCTED outhou.e ON their heads.
to say nothns ot tho dire't peril to the k,rurrs
| shouid the rrrat beasts heromn uucouirollahir.
Atsuch times. the rep rt'r has Witnessed both
keepers. armed witt clubs and shuIn prongs.
OF the Keepers hro then pitched to So high a X ry
that IL )m "A distance IL would seem that "A ti-ht
was going, on among themstly,s lhe hrad
Gus street professions. appears In the guise OF a
Goorka. leading the unwiell Is animals.
| As the reporter at 3 O'Clock Monday night
the 10Th inst. entered the Park. h. was attract
| ed by the shouts OF the elephant Keepers ana ~
he passed by the house noticed several men men
and women who stood looking ia at mo ant
mails. Tho remarks. " On. isn't TINT shameV
| and How brutall' from the visitors led hln
10 the elephant house.. The Two keepers ~
| their shirt sleeves. armed with pfchtorSs' were
going up and down the narrow outhOu-o amone
the animals. They seemed TO be particularly
severe in their attacks upon the third elephant
which was backing against the fourth ant
swinging its trunk. while his huge ears iaifn
stood outward.
The stove near the door was ren NOT ah,
threw a glow ot light through the whoie sutnle
All the nniinals seemed uhuer RrcHl cArltv
ment. Every effort OF the Keepers 10 keep qulr
the thiri elephant seemed lutlle, anu suIuehil
one OF the Keepers was Struck py ll3 hnliMn"i NV
The other keeper theh plchc4 w ioh. iIiol
poker that stood IN the llfe anu WIN w. p,u,,
Keeper pressed ms long on,polhtnu pllchlnIl
, against the hnimals trunk this Keeper ShI,,..
it and drove the poker quickly UP the hlllmhi
trunk. As ne ana so several women VINO Wrr
| present screamed ana one man TRppeu WIN
| stick against lho Rihsa' VINO olhcls ehoulc'
shame! Shanel - .,,. Nh,
: The Keepers pucAly turned oul tnelI ilHh'
| and continued shouting AT tue hhlmal-',
! | Two evenings laler tue sduiereporter happoI,
7 | ing to meet Keeper WIN Wh0m ne II pnlsphai
: lY acquainted, anu VINO Is klnl, palioht M"
/ | with ms charge lhcluehlhlS rW'naIheua ,,t Al,
! What WINS tne mater lh7t Moh,lhS WIN W
, | elephants. thht the keepers "ppllcu hVl HOh
+ one OF themT ,,..., ,,n..,.o.
= How dld you near Oh th"' asAeu ''o Ncol
, | er, starting. ,,, - 90
u Well Wns thrre replied ING ruepol,'r, an an
=, he described MhMt ne , hhI s,rni w WY MhS 20 Aool