The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-03-31
MO-. 81.
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A BABY ELEPHANT.
PHILADELPHIA,
March 10. l88O.f


geological world occurred at the sta
bles of Cooper Bailey, the circus
men, at Twenty-third street and
Ridge avenue, at an early hour this
Notwithstanding more nor less than
the birth of young elephant. The
Importance of the affair to the world
Of science will be realized when it ia
stated that it is the frst instance of
the kind that has ever taken place
so far as is known in these animals
in state Of captivity. Heretofore
all ideas and theories written or un.
written on the subject Of propraga-
ton among this species of quadru-
ped, duration Of the period OF gesta-
ton, ETC., have been more or less
speculative. The one fact that
seemed we'll established was that the
female elephant would not bear
young in her captive state.
The event this morning upsets
everything in this direction, how
ever, and affords occasion for scieD-
lists to shift their position and look
at the question from new stand
point. A queer-looking little black
animal, not much larger than New
foundiand dog, with very diminu-
tive specimen of a trunk, and with a
disposition to run at things blindly,
like young colt, fairly describes
the appearance of the stranger as it
waddled about in the large brick
stable known as the elephant house,
this morning.
The mother, large, black Asiatic
elephant, known by the name Of
Hebe, stood in. the centre Of the
large stable rooms with both hind
legs chained to two posts. This
precaution was absolutely necessary,
as will be shown. At the upper end
Of the stable room, all about dozen
yards from Hebe, stood six other
large elephants with their heads
l J. :
turned toward her, likewise chained
to posts.
1t was a most exciting scene
among these elephants when the
birth took place. For months past,
Hebe, on account Of her condition.
had been chained on the same spit
where she sto)d this morning, away
from the other elephants, the room
heing always in care of a watchman
ior keeper at night. This watchman
was at his post at half past two
o'clock, when the event by which
she distinguished herself occurred.
The baby elephant, which at once
showed disposition to make friends
with any and everybody, was pilotea
back to its mother, where the keep
ers and others, who bad been attract
ed by the general commotion, be-
Came at once interested in nursing it.
| II would run about with it's mouth
open very much like young colt.
The old elephant would not stand
still long enough to suckle it, being
constantly swaying and swinging
about, so that the keepers hit on the
happy expedient of procuring finn
mel and rubber tube about q yard
in Length.
i Inserting one end of the tube in
the baby's mouth, they fec it by
milking into the funnel at the other
end, the little newcomer taking It's
sustenance with relish it declared
it could take no more by promptly
jerking its mouth away. During all
the day it was necessary for two or
| three keepers to be present to attend
to it, their great fear being that 1t
might get entangled 10 the chains
which held its mother to the posts,
and get crushed.
The mother herself is a fine speci
men Of the As,atic elephant, being
only twenty-three years old and very
large. The sire is "Mandrie,' an
elephant of about the same size al
the mother, and two years older
The baby is thirty-1ve inches high
and Weighs ia pounds. The period
of CESSATION is put by scientific au
liberties at twenty months and .
half. There viii probably be sci
entifc investigation Of the case b,
Professor Leidy and othcrs.-[Spe
cial to the Cincinnati Commercial
"WHY, Bridget" said her mis-
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