Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-02-15
The New Baby Elephant.

Concerning the birth of a baby ele-
plant at Norwich, Conn, New York
Times correspondent says:
"The baby lay in the hay and saw
dust at the feet of its mother for several
minutes, while the mother rubbed it's
body with her huge trunk. Queen was
very nervous, the showmen thought, and
they did not bother her while she was
thus engaged. She essayed to raise her
new born 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
offspring, and it was thought that either
| she or it or both would take a notion to
| lie on the hay that the attendants had
| freely scattered in the ring. The baby
| at first trotted and then to the delight of
! the lookers-on, began for the first time
in its life the swaying 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 to her. He fed her
loeves of bread, pans of oatmeal, and a
solution of soda crackers and Jamaica
rum, and she seemed to smack her lips
and say "Bless you, my boy" Mr.. Bar
mum remained around the ring until mid
night, aud then reluctantly went to his
home to take nap. Mr.. James A. Bal
ley, his business partner, was among the
elephants with Mr.. Arstingstall and his
assistants throughout the night and up
to noon to day. Mr.. Arstingstall and
Mr.. 81. FL. Gross, the artist and histor-
ian of the show, measured and weighed
the baby shortly after it's birth. She was
80 inches In height, So inches in width,
and weighed 145 pounds. She was of
blush color at birth, but changed to a
| delicate mouse shade. Her trunk was y
inches IN length, measuring from the
under lip, and the tail was 30 short that
no attempt was made to measure it. The
baby, as one of the spectators expressed
| it, was call legs" She had two teeth.
She waddled about in close proximity to
her mothers heavy feet, and was appar-
antly in danger of being tripped up and
! trampIed upon, but her immense moth
er moved az cautiously as though STEP
ping on glass, and reached the baby with
her trunk whenever the little one rested
against her hind legs. The baby's eyes
we're fiery red, her hair was dark and
scant, and her toy trunk curled up as
she crawled under her mother and par
took of natural nourishment. She is
ABOUT one-third smaller is size than Co
lumbia at the time of her birth. The lat
ter then weighed 1885, pounds, while
America, the newcomer, weighs 145
pounds. For fully Is hours America re-
manned on her feet, and then, after MAX
ing many awkward attempts at lying
down in the hay, settled down in what
must have been most uncomfortable
position. She rested on her knees and
| placed her mouth squarely on the ground
with her trunk curled upward This
position greatly amused the spectators,
and the baby, through sheer exhaustion,
| toppled over ON her side and closed her
eyes In slumber. She did not remain
long at rest, however, and was soon
on her feet again, making circuit of
her mother. Queen, the mother, is a
native of Ceylon, and was imported in
1871 by Mr.. Barnum. She weighs
about $500 pounds, and is something
over 8 feet in height. Chieftain, the
father has been in this country Is years.
He rs IL feet A inches in height.