Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-11-04
:, ,puaNrs BATHING.
r,xenty of Barnum's Animals
spInshing Through the s"'y
Water.

=
Water.
Rarnum took notion to give TWEEN
~ OF his elephants a swim in the salt
Ho,er the other day. Seaside Park,
near the showman's mansion, is mag
nifcent area of tastefully improved land,
reaching down to the waters edge and
fripqed with a gently sloping pebbly
beach. To this beach the elephants
were marched in stately procession,
followed bv an immense crowd, which
seemed to embrace halt the people OF
Connecticut. Thousands ofpeople were
on hand TO enjoy the fun. AS soon as
the elephants got sight of the Sound
they made a break for the water with
EXPRESSIONS of the most stupeDdous Joy.
They showed no desire 10 keep near the
shore, but pushed for deep water, where
they began to play with all the hearth
ness Of lot of school boys let loose in
the surf. Neverhad elephants displayed
to a gapiag crowd their capacity for
tan and frolic in 50 pronounced q man
uer. They frisked like puppies tumo,
ling each other over in the water ai'u
performing all sorts OF wild gymnaSt'c
teats Two elephants would sportlFely
90 for a third and duck him under me
woter Then halt a dozen OF them would
an ,be;r trunks with water and squirt 1t
- oarb other as children in tie surf
snIosb water in each others faces with
rhelr 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 pres
emily the round black nozzle Of his trunk
would appear OH the surface, reminding
The SPECTATORS that beast with such a
long nose can remain out OF sight under
water as long as he pleases if he only
keeps the end of his breathing appa-
ra,ns within reach OF the fresh air.
AN UGLY MONSTER.
emperor, the large and unruly ele-
rhant, who made such trouble last sum-
mer when he escaped at Troy and went
on a rampage through the streets of
that city at night, showed a sportirely
riotous disposition. He acted as if he
was drunk and wanted to get up afght
among the other elephants. He is next
10 Jumbo in size and is ten times as
risky. He took several Of the little
elephants one by one and tossed them
over and around in the water as if they
were cats. Two or three of the little
ones thought it was too much OF a good
thing and seemed 20 want 10 unite tier
,tIorts to play trick on the monster
and hold him under the water. This
they tried ;or little while, but soon got
enough eli it, They knew how ugly he
could be when he iet like it, and so,
after few weak trials, they concluded
10 let him alone. After awhile Emperor
and another elephant nearly as big as
himself took notion TO start OFT toward
the Long Island shore. Side 10y side,
as if harnesscd together, they swan
majestically away, as if to return no
more When they had gone several
hundred yards Ole of the keepers put
after them in a row-boat and sUon
caught up with them. He had a pole
with hook at its end, such as is used
among Elephants tor an instrument OF
correction. After he had give Emperor
one punch with this the beast turned
and gave the boat a push with his
shoulder, indicative of what he might
further do if annoyed The beat began
To fill and the frightened keeper headed
tor shore. As h. turned tire other ele-
phant gave the boat whack with his
trunk Just as a little reminder For a
few moments there was deep excite
ment among the crowd, for nobody
knew but that the creatures might take
it into. their heads to swim the whcle
length of Long Island Sound aud thence
ont TO sea- Somebody suggested send
ing "a steam tug after them, and Others
idiotically proposed harpoons and lasso-
ropes. The venerable Barnum sat on
the portico of the bathing pavilion near
by and laughed like biz boy, heartily
enjoying The fun and knowing that the
voice OF Arstingstall, The chief trainer,
would in time avail 10 prevent the ami
mails from being lost at sea. In few
minutes Arstingstall's word ofcommand
was heard from tire beach. Instantly
the swimmers turned and headed for
the shore, greeted by immense cheering
from the crowd.
SWIM OF TWO HOURS.
The whole swim of the elephantine
party lasted about two hours, 10 the
great delight of tie beasts themselves
aud of the Bridgeporlers who were as
sembled to see them. Interest in the
performance did not for a moment flag.
though the day was cold and drizzly.
The elephants would have stayed in
the water all the afternoon lad they not
been commanded % come out When
called to come to the shore they oheyed
very reluctantly, performing all sorts Of
capers. One muscular elephant wound
his trunk around one OF the posts sup
porting the platform which extends out
from the bathing pavilion over the water
of the Sound. He was about to pull
,b;s pos, nm tho affact of which vonlI