The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-28

separate and distinct railroad trans, and 6
city of canvass has sprung up as if by
magic at the show grounds on the corner
of Ninth street and Ninth Avenue The
streets have been filled with people in
which the rural districts predominant to a
great extent, although the citizens of Rock
Island and their families have not been
slow to avail themselves of the opportunity
of witnessing the grand street parade which
is a distinctive feature of the Bari:.i!n ~
gregation.
THE PROCESSION
started out at a late hour this morning and
traversed the principal streets and thor
oughfares of the city. Along the line of
march the sidewalks and all
the available places were filed
with anxious spectators who highly enjoy
ed the pageant as it proceeded through the
city. The procession was simply immense
and in keeping with the gigantic show
now travelling with Barnum, Bailey and
Hutchinson as sole managers and proprIe-
tors. The bands, ealiopes, automatic con-
trivences, dens of tigers, lions, snakes and
hyenas exposed to public view, rendered it
an exhibition fully as good as the perfor-
nance given under cover by many shows.
THE ANIMALS.
The most interesting exhibit in the
street display was the cage of tigresses
with Winner, the keeper, seated among
them. His perilous position was generally
appreciated.
A representative of THE ARGUS met
this trainer as well as the other head men
at the show ground and from them CLEAN
ed the following facts and information
The tigresses number four, who, all but
Winner, are as ferocious and savage as
when they roamed the lungles of Asia.
To enter their cage is fearful risk, even
for him, although he has grown aecustom-
ed to it. In the parade this morning he
was in more than usual danger, because
then for the first time he entered their cage
in colored suit and spangles. The sight
of the bright colors so enraged them that
he had the greatest difficulty in keeping
them under control. ''There is no animal
equal to the tiger" said Winner "They
are the genuine kings among the beasts,
and the lion must take second place. for
they are not only more ferocious but com
paratively stronger than the lion. The
lions are tanned with far greater ease and
they respond more easily to kindness"
Two out of the four lions which are CON
fined in the cage in the menagerie were
born in captivity.
THE ELEPHANTS.
What is really the most interesting part
of the menagerie is what first strikes the
eve as one enters-the 90 elephants stand
ing together in the center of the tent. The
one around which there is always the largest
crowd is the baby elephant the only one
ever born in captivity, and its mother,
Hebe. Mr.. II. III. Copeland, their keeper,
gave quite an interesting account of his
charge. He was the only one who hap
pened to be with the mother elephant when
the little one was born, and consequently
he enjoys the distinction of being the only
man. so far as the records show, who ever
witnessed the birth of an elephant. The
baby was born ON Twenty third street, in
Philadelphia, March 10, 1880, after twenty
months and twenty days CESSATION. Its
hide was then of a reddish color and al
most smooth. When it was weighed six
hours after birth it tipped the beam at
2133 pounds. When three months old it
weighed 235. The last time it was put on
the scales was in June, when
IT WEIGHED $50 POUNDS
1t has grown rapidly, as It nurses three |
or four times an hour. How long a time |
will elapse before its mother weans it is !
not known, but it is supposed it will be |
between two and three years if it is not |
but 1t is learning to eat the hay and other |
food which is given to its mother. 1t has
acquired Initiated taste for circus lemon
ade, and when Mr.. Thomas held out glass
towards it yesterday it took it eagerly and |
sucked up the lemonade in Its trunk. It's
mother and father are both Ceylon ele
plants.
Mr.. Copeland, who has made the habits
of elephants a study, added some interest
ing facts to those already learned about
animal training.
They are intelligent" said he, s'and if
sufficient care be taken with them they can
be taught great number of tricks. Hebe
lere is one of the best performing ele
ohants in the country, but she has never
been in the ring.
SINCE HER BABY WAS BORN
She seems to be pretty fond of me, but
the would not pay any attention to me If
The was not afraid of me. All elephants
are the same way; they are governed en-
irely by fear. There is no such thing as
IN elephant having affection for its keeper
t is the same, too, with the majority of
animals, lions being the most notable ex-
;eption. You can do very little with them
~ force as it drives them to fury, but they
an be tanned by kindness to some degree.
Ou Cun uCfCl bCII dDOut al Clc you
lave them trained SO that they understand
rou almost like person, and obey every
when all at oHee they become
ulky and obstinate. When they are in
me of these fits it takes terrible punish
nent to master them. Sometimes we have
o put chains around their feet, run them
through block and hitch another elephant
o the tackle. When they are thrown down
hey have to be prodded with hooks until
hey givesin.
THAT BIG FELLOW
yer there, Chief, got IN the sulks at Fast
aginaw two years ago. A countryman
7as passing in two horse wagon, and
thief broke away after him with his trunk
aised. The countryman whipped his horses
D dead run and kept them that way for !
hree miles with the elephant right behind
i'm. The circus men caught hun just as
e had caught the wagon. which had turn
over in ditch. It is always hard to get
i'm into car; he has to be dragged and !
rodded every time. Albert is another |
Tho is likely to get the sulks; when we
Tere at Ottawa, H., this season, we turned $
lem all into the river to battle, and when
Te tried to get Albert out he came very I
ear drowning his keepers"
NETGHBoRH0op NOTES.
Twenty divorce cases ere on the docket !.
Dr. the September tenn Of court at Ma