The Osceola times., 1880-07-24
ELEPHANT TRAINING.
Craven. the Famous Trainer ard His
. .. 900 -. Pupils.
Mickie, IT'S true;
Shut both my eyes
And fancy IT'S your"

800 Pupils.
| Globe Democrat
Stewart Craven, professional elephant
trainer, was found at the Planters house
last evening by Globe Democrat re-
porter. Mr.. Craven has many interest,"
ing anecdotes to tell of his peculiar and
exciting profession, and some are novel
and instructive.
Mr.. Craven is forfy-fve years of age.
rather tall and slightly built, has black
hairslightly sprinkled with gray, and
full beard in which the gray shows more
plainly. His eyes are quick and keen AZ
it would be supposed his business re.
quires. He thoroughly understands the
elephant nature, and, as will be seen in
the following interview, he believes i'm
kindness in the government of his huge
pupils.
"Mr. Craven;' asked the reporter,
how long have you been in the business
of elephant training?"
Twenty seven years. l commenced
with Van Amburgs menagerie when a
boy, and have trained all the prominent
performing elephants that have since
that been exhibited"
"Tell me some of Them"
well to begin with, there was Tippo
Sable, that trained for Van Amburg.
He was always good-natured and was
really the finest elephant ever in this
country. He had pair of splendid
tusks, He has been dead for some twelve
years. Then came Romeo and Juliet,
trained that couple for Maybee. They
were afterward with Dan Rice and Fore
paugh."
Wasn't Romeo bad elephant"
"He was occassioply bad natured. In
his native country he killed two of his
keepers, and he killed Bill Williams at
Attlcboro. Williams had not good judg.
ment, or he never would have lost his
life in the way he did. new Romeo
well, and if he had been properly hand
ed he would never have become 30
bad"
"What other elephants have you hand
led?"
"The next lot trained were the five
London elephants. | trained them when
with fhe London show, nine OF ten years
ago. Then trained seven tor Fore.
paugh in 1866. He has lost two of the
lot and has added others. Young Fore.
paugh is smart trainer, and will make
a good one in time. He got his first in.
structions from me-"
Have you trained any latcly?"
| Last winter | trained twelve fol
Cooper * Bailey, at Philadelphia. They
are superior TO anything of the kind YET
seen, having military drill, an i'm
proved pyramid, tight-rope walker and
clown elephant"
Yes, kindness; but still you must b,
firm. AS general rule, kindness will
go further than punishment"
Are these huge beasts as intelligent
as claimed?"
They have wonderful memory and
are very intelligent. Last spring Heb,
as you probably know, had a baby ele.
phant in Philadelphia. She displayed {
vast fund of motherly affection and so
licitude. was present at the accouch
ment. 1t was the only baby elephan,
ever born in Europe or America, or, in
short in any locality outside Of the ma
tive country of the animals"
what is the period of gestation?"
Twenty months and twenty DAYS
That fact was well established last win
ter"
as your home In Philadelphia, Mr.
Craven?" asked the reporter
mo, sir; in Dallas, Texas, where
have large farm and stock business
There are some prospect of my going tc
the native country ofthe elephant and
selecting specimens for this country
You see the people are Just waking up tc
the elephantine education. | don't
think there is any limit to be set to their
training capabilities"
Another curious thing" continued
| NJ dc ,l,n
lists between elephants. will give you
an instance. Last year in Niles, Michi-
gan the ring of the circus was in soft
ground. In making the pyramid Hebe
formed the top. The great weight con.
centrated in a few feet caused the sup
ports to totter, and they were ready to
fall. The other elephants, seeing her
danger, came TO her aid and eased her
fall to the ground so that she escaped
uniniured. j think the others were es-
pecially careful of Hebe all through
that season, as they knew her TO be en-.
ciente. In danger they will always rush
TO one another's protection"
"Hebe has become somewhat noted?'
"Yes; her baby has given her much
notriety. She is remarkably intelii-
gent. Once, for punishment, l tied a
female elephant named Queen with her
head to beam in very uncomfortable
position. Happening soon after to turn
around saw lfebc trying hard to unite
the knot and let her down"
"They occasionly get loose, sup
pose"
| Yes. An amusing circumstance once
happened in Keokuk. Romeo got loose
i'm the night. 1t was very dry time
and he needed water. He stepped int
the garden patch of an old Irish woman
and made short work of her cabbage
crop. In little back shanty the old
woman had barrell of soft soap Ro-
meo reached in, found the soap, and
proceeded to bathe himself with it.
Further investigation revealed to
the enterprising brute barrel of
-four, with which in a pure spirit of
mischief, he covered himself About
this time the old lady discovered her
unwelcome guest, and her fright was
awful. She thought the devil" had
come for her, sure. I pacified her, paid
for her garden and other damage, and
Rofneo and rant "a fha erool ,shor,