The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-02-24
THE BABY ELEPHANT "AMERIcAn
Something About the Daughter ola Queen.

me oAbt ELEPHANT AmEHlCA"
Something About the Daughter ola Queen.
Bridgeport, Conn, Corr. ". Y. Times, Feb. Sd.
At eight s'clock last evening, twenty ele-
plants of various sizes were chained by one
of their hind legs to stout posts in circle
close to a sawdust ring. Eight minutes la
ter Queen, who was chained to q heavy post
iu the center of the ring, was delivered of an
heir, whose entree into public life was greet
ed with succession of roars from all the
elephants in the building. Mr.. Barnum was
quickly summoned from his home. He
shook the hands of all the attendants, and
was as lively as the liveliest young man in
Bridgeport, although nearly seventy-one
years of age. Drs. Cole, Sanford, Porter,
Bronson and Hubbard, of this city, soon ar
rived, and everybody excepting the elephants,
was disposed to merry-making. The ele-
plants seemed to take gloomy view Of the
situation, and, while continuously swaying
to and fro, winked in an ominous manner or
tapped their blanket-like ears as though pre-
pairing to strike terror to the hearts of those
of the human race who stood close to the
outer circle of the ring. Chieftain, the faith
er of the baby, was apparently more sullen
lean against the wall In his corner and kick.
He shrieked like calliope when any one
approached him, and it was deemed best TO
leave Kim to his meditations.
The baby lay In the hay and sawdust at
the feet of its mother for several minutes,
while the mother rubbed its body with her
huge trunk. Queen was very nervous, the
Snowman thought, and they did not bother
her while she was thus engaged. She es-
sayed to raise her newborn daughter to her
feet, but the little one, to the astonishment
of all, rose of her own accord and attempted
to plant her block-like feet squarely on the
sawdust. The mother closely eyed her off
spring, and 1t was thought that either she or
it, or both, would soon take notion to lie
on the hay which the attendants had freely
scattered in the ring. The baby at first tot.
tered, and then,to the delight of the lockers
on, began for the first time In its life the
swsyIng motion peculiar to all elephants.
Mr.. George Arstingstall, the trainer, who
has had an experience Of over twenty years
with elephants, and who witnessed the birth
of the first one ever born in captivity on
March 10, 1880, in Philadelphia, rejoiced
over his new charge, and Queen permitted
no one but him to come close 10 her. He fed
her loaves of bread, pans of oatmeal, and a
solution of soda crackers and Jamaica rum,
aud she seemed to smack her lips and say,
"Bless you, my boy" Mr.. Barnum remained
around the ring until midnight and then re-
luctantly went to his home to take nap.
Mr.. James A. Bailey, his business partner,
was among the elephants with Mr.. Arstings-
tall and his assistants throughout the night
and up to noon to day. Mr.. Arstingstall and
Mr.. ii. ii. Cross, the artist and historian of
the show, measured and weighed the baby
shortly after its birth. She was thirty inches
in height, thirty-six inches in width, and
weighed AS pounds. She was Of blush
color at birth, but changed to delicate
mouse shade. Her trunk was seven and
one-half inches in length, measuring from
the under lip, aud the tail was so short that
no attempt was made TO measure 1t. The
baby, as one of the spectators expressed 1t,
was call legs" She had two teeth. She
moidtfa abaut in close proximity to her
danger of being tripped up and trampled
| upon, but her immense mother moved rs
cautiously as though stepping on glass, ard
reached the baby with her trunk whenever
| the little one rested against her hind legs
| The baby's eyes were fiery red, her hair was
| dark and scant, and her toy trunk curled NJ
az she crawled under her mother and par
took of natural nourishnent. She Is about
one-third smaller i'm size than Columbia wa!
at the time of her birth. The latter ther
weighed 236s pounds, while America, thu
newcomer, weighs 145 pounds. For fully
sixteen hours America remained on her feet
and then, after many awkward attempts
living on the hay, settled down in what mus
have been most uncomportable position
She rested on her knees and placed he
mouth squarely on the grass, with her trunl
curled upward. This position great.
amused the spectators, and the baby, from
sheer exhaustion, toppled over on her sid
and closed her eyes in slumber. She did no
remain long at rest, however, and was sool
again on her feet making circuit OF he
mother.
Oueen, the mother, Is native Of Ceylor
aud was imported in 1871 by Mr.. Barnun
She weighs about $500 pounds, and Is some
thing over eight feet in height. Chieftair
the father, has been in this country fftee
wears. He is eleven feet four inches
height.