The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-02-14
A Baby Elephant at Bridgeport,
Conn, on February,
I'd. 1889.
8arnum, Bailey & Hutchinson
Proprietors OF the Won
derful Curiosity.
An Offer of $4,000 to Insure the
Amin ais Life for $500,
600 for One Year.

captivity was ushered into life last
evening at precisely eight o'clock at
the winter quarters in this city of the
Barnum, Bailey 4 Hutchinson circus.
At IL o'clock last night both mother
and child we're doing we'll.
A telephone dispatch reached the
News Office at 6 o'clock that the long
expected event was about to occur.
Swift as horse flesh could carry him,
areporter of the News sped to the
grounds. On arrival. Queen, the
mother, was found in tn. centre of the
training ring in the elephant quarters,
chained to heavy post. Two lolg
guy ropes were attached to her hind
legs, but they lay loose on the ground.
Spread about her on the ground was
q large amount Of hay and straw.
The huge beast had commenced to
show the effect of her labor pains at
5 o'clock. Now and then she would
fall upon her knees, and then rising.
sway from side to side as ship in the
trough of the sea. Around her at
the side of the building stood nineteen
elephants, of all sizes, from the for
mer baby, to its father, Mandrii, the
largest of the group. They were un-
mindful of the scene going On in the
arena before them. Prot. Arstingstall,
the trainer, now and then would ap-
proach Queen and tenderly speak to
her. Over on her side rolling about
went the beast in her pains, that
came and went at intervals. Then
she would recover and stand quiet for
a moment. This continued until five
minutes of eight. when, with fearful
trumpeting and howl of agony, the
little stranger was ushered into the
world. in about minute Then fol-
lowed a scene that beggars descrip-
ton. Howl after howl and trumpet
ings that fairly shook the building
came from the mother and her ele-
phantine companions. The lions, IT,
gers and other animals In the next
room took up the cries and the noise
was terrific.
The only newspaper man present
was the reporter Of the News. Others
came half an hour after the birth.
On the straw Law a dark-Iooking OBJ
iect the size of a Newfoundland dog.
Over this, Queen rocked and tramped,
all the time uttering fearful cries.
She would tug away, with a mighty
effort, at the ropes attached to her
hind legs and rear, and plunged like
a young colt. No one, not even Prof |
Arstingstall, dared venture near her, |
while she was laboring under this ire |
msndous excitment, begot of pain
and the JOY and novelty of mother /
mood. Exhausted by her efforts, the
beast would fall on her side to the
straw. Soon recovering, she wouIi
rise and give vent to a series of bowls
and begin the same tranping of the
gros1n, Juggling at the ropes and
sndeayes;ps " free her forelegs from
the chain which held it to huge post
in the centre of the ring. all this
time the trainer circled about the
animal, endeavoring by endearing
words to calm her excitement. At
times she would try to pick up her
Vshy, but failing in this she would
snap at the trainer and give vent to
fierce howIs.
The baby would roll about on the
straw, and at times lift up his comlcal
head and look about. Once, half an
hour after birth, it stood on its feet
for a second, but soon fell down.
Whenever it rolled away from the
mother she would set ups terrible
howl as if in fear of its danger. The
trainer made several attempts to get
near the baby but was driven away.
About $50, Queen in her struggles,
snapped the immense centre post in
twain, and her front legs We're free.
In the scare. fifty spectators tried to
lam through door two feet wide and
for q minute there was a terrific strug-
gle The News reporter went up
ladder bound for the rafters. But
there was no danger, as the guy ropes
held the beast at anchor. Then there
vas a general laugh.
In Philadelphia, Hebe broke away
and tore down a stove and did other
damage. The spectators remembered
this and consequently were cautious.
At $50, an hour and half after
birth, the baby took several steps about
the ring and the spectators cheered.
Queen trumpeted and the other ami.
mails followed suit. She was tar from
being quieted then, and Prof. Arsting-
stall continued to approach her in
endearing terms. Sometimes she
would allow him to come near her and
then. again, savagely drive him away.