The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-25


tho centre Of tho ring holding the end
OF rope. At tho other ond of tho
rope was a small elephant reluctantly
shufiling around tho ring under the
steering of keeper, WHO pushed at
his head, and tho probing oftWo other
keepers at his flanks. Ranged around
J tho room were seventeen other ole,
plants in that peculiar attitude of Gle,
phantine listlessneso that show visitors
ore familiar with. One of them had
evidently boon ut rehearsal short
time before, for he was experimenting
all by himsclfwith his fore feet OH one
OF those tubs on which performing
elephants stand. 1t is u pceuliarity Of
these sagacious beasts that thcy keep
practising, outside of business hours,
whatever tricks thoir Keepers are try
ing TO teach them. Against the wall
stood movable framework resem-
bling horses stall. Beside it stood
several tubs, such rs elephants stand
on.
"We are getting up new way Of
forming q pyramid of elcphants,~ a
keeper said. "The old waY was to let
the elephants stand with their hind
feet OH the small tubs and put their
fore feet on 4 high tub in the centre.
Next season we are going to put one
OF the elephants in place Of the centre
tub, and let tho others put their feet
on ms back. In breaking in the mid
die elephant we put him in that franc
work where he can't tmove. When he
gets used to 1t we will take away tho
frame"
TIE BABY ELEPHANT.
|
the baby" said Mr.. Hutchinson to the
head keeper. The keeper stepped to
fcnccd-oT portion of tile room, and let
down two of the four bars. Before
he could drop the other two big leg
was thrust over the top, then another.
| Then short, chunky body followed
half way and stuck fast. There seem
| cd to be another heavy pair of Icrs
dangling tho other side of tho bars.
! There was a short season of wrigginy;
then the rear portion Of the body went
up and the fore part went down.
There was q final plunge, and there
stood revealed "Amcrica," the only
baby elephant ever born in captivity;
nine months old, three and half feet
high, 900 pounds in weight, frisky as
a spring calf, and clumsicr than q
Newfoundland pup. lIebc, the proud
and only elephant mother, started to
follow, in order to keep her eye OH
her babe, but tho keeper ordered her
back. Tho baby thought she would
go back, too, and over sho went with
a reckless tumble. That was SO easy
that she decided to get over again
right away, and she flolmdcrcd out
sideways. She repeated this great
feat with keen relish at least dozen
times in rs many minutes. Next she
mounted tho rim Of the circus ring,
and fell off before she had walked her
length. Then she spicd tub, and
stepped up OH its bottom rs she had
seen tho other elephants do. She
jumped off rs soon as she got on TO
follow man who was CARRYING q pail
ofwatcr. When the man shut the door
OH her she came back and lodged |
around under the other elephants who |
were watching her antics, and finally
she got spanked with big board to |
make her hasten her return to the pen |
again.
America still nurses, and her mother
never lets her go out alone if she can
help it, though the other female clc-
plants caress aud fondlc her, and |
would not sec her hurt for the world. |
BY the time she is wcancd Hcbc's |
proud distinction threatens to be lost,
ana queen, unOInGr VI Tic INC lIUnoun !
show elephants, promises to usurp her
place in the public eye.
Besides the eighteen elephants in the
winter quarters, there arc four dwarf
woolly ones now Oh their way thither
from Europe. Three Of the Central |
Park elephants also belong to the
show, making total Of twenty-five.
Mr.. Arstingstall has five experienced
keepers assisting him in caring for the |
elephants. The animals arc never left |
by themselves for moment, night or
day. Two men sleep in the room
every night. The elephants cat 2 200
pounds of hay per day, besides eight |
bushels Of oats and corn and four
bushels Of carrots.
Mr.. Barnum expects to travel with
tho combination, as usual, but will |
leave the details to Mr.. Baily, the gen
cral manager, and to Mr.. Hutchinson,
his partners. Mr.. Barnum's partners
were both with the London show.
Ihcy are young men, under thirty
fiVe, and almost grew up in the busi-
ness. Mr.. Bailey was II show bill
poster, and Mr.. Hutchinson started in
life ms driver of circus wagon at
fifteen dollars a month.
.
Under date Of the 10Th, the census
bureau at Washington announces the
result OF the RECOMMENDATION of three
townships in South Carolina as fol-
lows: Willistoa township, Barnwcll
county, first enumeration, $50; sec
0nd enumeration, 2,723-a gain Of 81.
Stccpin township, Chesterfield county.
first, 1850; second, 2,070-a loss of 10.
Broad River township, Lexington
county, first, 2,426: lsecond, 2,5l8-a
gain Of so.
1900. 1881.