The Russellville Democrat., 1880-07-29
ELEPHANT TRAINING.
Craven, the Famous Trainer ard His
 Pupils.
Globe e-Dcmocrat.

last evening by Globe Democrat re- porter. MT. Craven has many interest," ing anecdotes to tell of his peculiar and exciting profession, and some are novel and instructive.
 MT. Craven is forty-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 as 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 in kndnessin the government of his huge pupils. :,
 ''how long have you been in the business of elephant training?"
 "Twenty-s years. I commenced with Van Amburg's menagerie when a boy, and have trained all the prominent performing elephants that have since that been exhibited"
 Tell me some of them.o
 Well to begin with, there was Hippo Saibe, that I 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, I trained that couple for Maybee. They were afterward with Dan Rice and Fore paugh."
 Wasn't Romeo bad elephant2"
 -"He was occassioply bad natured. In his native country he killed two of his keepers, and he killed Bill Williams at Attleboro. Williams had not good judg- ment, or he never would have lost his life in the way he did. I new Romeo well, and fine had been properly hand led he would never have become so bad"
 What other elephants have you hand led?' 4- '.f9 .f-.,
 "The next lot trained were the five London elephants. I trained them when with inc London show, nine or ten years ago. Then 1 trained seven for Fore paugh in 1866. He has lost two of the lot and has added others. Young Fore paNgh is smart trainer, and will make a good onein time. He got his first in- structions from me-"
 Have you trained any lately?" ae
 Last winter 1 trained twelve for Cooper & Bailey, at Philadelphia. They are superior to anything of the kind yet seen, having military drill, an inn proved pyramid, q tight-rope walker and a clown elephant"
 Yes, kindness; but still you must be firm. As general rule, kindness will go further than punishment" m
 Are these huge beasts as intelligent as claimed?"
 "They have a wonderful memory and are very intelligent. Last spring Hebe as you probably know, had baby ele- phant in Philadelphia. She displayed vast fund of motberly affection and so- licitude. was present at the accouch- ment. It was the only baby elephant ever born in Europe or America, or, in, short in any locality outside of the na- tive country of the animals"
 What is the period of gestation?"
 'Twenty months and twenty days. That fact was well established last win ter"
 "Is your home in Philadelphia, MT. Craven?" asked the reporter.
 No, sir; in Dallas, Texas, where I have large farm and stock business. There are some prospect of my going to the native country ofthe elephant and selecting specimens for this country. You see the people are just waking up to the elephantine education. l don't think there is any limit to be set to their training capabilities"
 Another curious thing" continued MT. Craven, lis the affection which ex- ists between elephants. Twill 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 few feet caused the sup ports to totter, and they were ready to fall. The other elephants, seeing her danger, came 10 her aid and eased her fall to the ground so that she escaped uninjured. 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, I tied q female elephant named Queen with her head to beam in very uncomfortable position. Happening soon after to turn | around saw Hebe 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 | in the night. It was very dry time and he needed water. He stepped into | 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 | flour, with which in pure spirit of he covered himself. About this time the old lady discovered her guest, and her fright was awful. She thought the "devil" had come for her, sure. pacified her, paid for her garden and other damage, and | Romeo and l went to the creek, where he took a good bath, being already soaped"
 Romeo had a bad temper if re- right?"
 "Iie was subject to spells. Once in Chicago, he. got loose, knocked his | keeper senseless under the benches, and | freeing his mate Juliet, they began to | mash everything they could reach in the building. This was some years be- fore the fire. and the amphitheater was just opposite the court house. The en- ragged couple went into the street, which l was soon deserted, as the elephants went for everything they could see--men | horses, or anything else. The police be- came alarmed and the people excited. |