, 1880-08-09
Elephant Education.

Mr.. Stewart Craven, professional ele-
phant trainer, was found in the Plant
ers' House last evening by . Globe Dem
ocrat reporter. Mr.. Craven has many
interesting anecdotes to tell of his pc
suliar and exciting profession, and some
are novel and instructive.
Mr.. Craven is forty five years o tage,
rather tall and slightly built, has black
hair slightly 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 busi-
ness requires. He thoroughly under
stands the elephant nature, and as will
be seen in the following interview, be-
lieves in kindness in the government of
his huge pupils.
Mr.. Craven" asked the reporter,
how long have you been in the bust
ness of elephant training?"
"Twenty-seven years. I commenced
with Van Amburg's menagerie when a
boy, and have trained all the prominent
performing elephants that have since
been exhibited"
"Tell me about some of them."
"Well, to begin with, there was
Tippo Saib, that trained for Van Am
burg. He was always good-natursd.
and was really the finest elephant ever
II this country. He was very kind in
disposition, docile, and intelligent. He
had pair Of splendid tusks. He has
been dead for some twelve years. Then
came Romeo and Juliet. I trained
that couple for Msybee. They were
afterward with Dan. Rice and Fore
psugh."
Wasn't Bemeo bad elephanh?"
"He was occasionally bad -narured.
Ia his native country he killed two
of his keepers, and he killed Bill
Williams at Attleboro. Williams had
not good judgment, or he never would
have lost his life in the way he did. l
knew Romeo we'll, and if he had been
properly handled he would never have
become so bad"
"Whst other elephants have you
handled?"
"Ths next lot trained were the five
London elephants. I TRAINED them when
with the London show, nine or ten
years age. Then I trained seven for
Forepaagh in 1876. He has lost two of
the lot and has added others. Young
Ferepaagh is a smart trainer, and will
make COED enc in time. He got his
first instructions from me-"
"Have you trained any lately ?"
Last winter I trained twelve for
Cooper s 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"
Your rule is kindness, I understood
you to say"
"Yes, kindness; but still you must
be fra. As o general rule, kindn ess
will 60 further than punishment"
"Are these huge beasts as intelligent
as claimed ?"
"They have wonderful memory and
are very intelligent. Last spring Hebe,
as you probably know, had baby ole
phant at Philadelphia. She displayed
. vast fund of motherly affection and
soicitude. was present at the &C.
couchement. It was the only baby ele-
phant ever born in Europe or America,
or, in short, in any locality outside of
the native country of these animals"
"What is the period of CESSATION "
"Twenty months and twenty days.
That fact was we'll established last win
ter"
"Is your home in Philadelphia. Mr..
Craven?" asked the reporter.
mo, sir; in Dallas, Texas, where
have a large farm and stock business.
There is some prospect of my going to
the native country Of the elephent and
selecting specimens for this country.
You see the people are Just waking up
to the capabilities of the elephantine
education. I don't think there is any
limit to be set to their training capabil-
jties."
"Another curious thing" continued
Mr.. Craven, els the affection that ex-
lists between elephants. Twill give you
an instance. Last year in Niles, Mich,
the ring of the circus was in soft
ground. In forming 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 to her aid and eased her
fall to the ground so that she escaped
uninjured. I think the others were es-
pecially careful of Hebe all through
that season, as they knew her to be
eneetnte. In danger they will almost
always rush to one another's protec-
ton"
"Hebe has become somewhat noted ?"
Eyes; her baby has given her much
notoriety. She is remarkably intelli-
gent. Once, for a punishment, I tied
female elephant, called Queen, with
her head to beam in very uncomfort-
able position. Happening soon after to
look around I saw Hebe trying hard to
Al lok