Omaha daily bee., 1882-11-14
TIE BATH.
Barnum's Twenty Elephants Take 6
Dip in the Sad Sea-Waves.

Bridgeport Comm Correspondent Philadelphia
Times.
Barnum took a notionSt TO give TWEEN.
ty of his elephatns q swim in the salt
water the other day. Seaside Park,
near the showman's mansion, ia q mag
nificent area of tastefully improved
land, reaching down to the waters
edge, and fringed with a gently slop-
ing, pebbly beach. To this beach the
elephants were marched in q stately
procession, followed by an immense
crowd, which seemed to embrace half
the people of Connecticut. Thousands
of people were on hand to enjoy the
fun. As soon as the elephants got a
sight of the Sound they made a break
for the water, with expressions of the
most stupenduoua JOY. They showed
no desire to keep near the shore, but
pushed for deep water, where they be-
gan to play with all the heartiness of
u lot of achool-boys let loose in the
surf. Never had elephants displayed
to a paying crowd their capacity for
run and frolic In 80 pronounced q mau-
ner. They frisked like puppies, tum-
bling each other over in the water and
performing all sorts of wild gymnastic
feats. Two elephants would sportive-
ly go for a third and duck him under
the water. Then half a dozen of them
would fill their trunks with water and
squirt 1t at each other as children in
the surf splash water in each Others
faces with their hands. Sometimes an
elephant would be missing for several
minutes, and people would get an idea
that he had sunk to rise no more. But,
presently, the round black nozzle Of
his trunk would appear on the surface,
reminding the spectator that a beast
with such a long nose can remain GU;
of sight as long as he pleases, if he
only keeps the end of his breathing
apparatus within reach of freph air.
Emperor" the large and unruly
elephant, who made such trouble las
summer when he escaped at Troy and
went on a rampage through the streets
of that city at night, showed a spor
lively riotous disposition. He acte6
as if he was drunk aud wanted to get
up a fight among the other elephants.
He is next TO Jumbo In size, and il
ten times as risky. He took seyeral
OF the little elephants one by n and
tossed them over and around in the
water as if they were cats. Two o,
three of the little ones thought it wa,
too much of a good thing, and seemed
tc want to unite their efforts to play a
trick on the monster and hold him
under the water. This they tried fol
a little while, but soon got enough OF
it. They knew how ugly he could be
when he felt like 1t, and SO, after a
few weak trials, they concluded to lei
him alone After awhile Emperor
and another elephant nearly as big as
himself took a notion to start Of
toward the Long Island shore. Side
by side, as if harnesaed together,
they SWAN maj 9 tically away, as il to
return no more. When they had
gone several hundred yards one Of
the keepers put after them in a row.
boat, and soon caught up with them.
tie had a pole with q hook at the end,
such as Is used among elephants for ar
Instrument of correction. After
he had given Emperor one
punch with this the beast turned
ana gave the boat a push with
his shoulder, indicative OF what he
might further do if annoyed. The
boat began to fill, and the frightened
keeper headed for shore. AS he turned
the other elephant gave the boat Q