The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-04-10
A BABY ELEPHANT.

4 very interesting event-thc birth al
IA baby elephant-took place at the circus
stables of Cooper & Bailey, Philadelphia.
early in the morning Of March 10th. Tie
importance of the affair to the world OF
science will be realized when it is stated
that it is the first authenticated instance
of the kind that has ever taken place
among these animals i'll state Oh cap
tivitv. 1t is said that a similar event
occurred in London some time during
the last century, but there is no pusit'v"
proof in regard to il.
At the sides of the stahle-room where
this little creature was born were L nInn-
Der OF large elephants chained to posts
while IIebc, the mother, waN cilaInc" III
the center of the ropn where size was
safe from molestation. The moment the
baby was born, the other elephants set
up IA tremendous believing. threw their
trunks about. wheeled around, stood on
their hind legs. and cavortcd and danced
in the highest glcc, IS though they hau
GONE mad. The excitement rommun-
Gated itself to IIebc. anil she became al
most frantic. With 4 terrific plunge Size
broke the chains and ropes which held
her. and grasping up the little baby cic-
phant with her trunk, threw it about
twenty yards across the room, letting II
fall near large hot >tovc--whcre IRE
II
with mad rush. following and la>hin@
her trunk as though She would carry
every thing before her.
The keeper, who WIS on watch alone.
| fled for his life, and not a moment too
| soon. Around the stove was 4 stout TIM
Der railing. against which iichr charged
with s.,ch effect that She reduced i t"
kindling wood in short order. Not stop
ping here. she struck the stove, an"
| knocked it into the position of the lean
| ing Tower of Pisa in an instant. and bad
Iy smashed the pipe. The keeper Ineall-
time had given the alarm. and three ~
| four others coming to his assistance, the
animal was. after some trouble. secured
|
and chained to the post again.
The other elephants meanwhile kept
believing and flashing their trunks, Is il
to welcome the little stranger. The at
tendants gently led it backto the mother.
and the keepers ard others Who had been
attracted by the unusual commotiou at
once became interesting in nursing it.
1t would run about with its mouth open.
very much like young colt. The old
elephant would not stand still long enough
to suckle it. being constantly SNaHin"
and swinging about. SO the Keepers liit
on the happy cxpcdicnt of procuring a
funnel. and rubber tube about a Narl
in length. Inserting one end Of The tube
in the baby's mouth. they fed it i'> milk
ing into the funnel at the other end. ii
| little newcomer taking its sustcn1uc'
with relish, until it declared il coul
take no more by promptly jerking il,
mouth away. Later in the day. how
ever, the baby proceeded TO feed itself
| by The natural source provided for ii.
Throwing back its trunk, the baby NJ
piled its mouth TO the mothers breast,
and fed itself in perfectly natural and
easy manner. Writers OF to-day have
held that tic young elephant uses It's
trunk in the process Of sucking, while
ancient writings were directly 10 the GOA
trary. The early statements have been
thus proved to be correct.
The baby elephant is female. She is
CONTINUED ON THE FOUR pAGE.)