Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-18
IMPORTING AN ELEPHANT,

elephant story of many years ago. In the
year 1888 the ships Cashmere, Captain
Elias Dawson, and the Sachem, Captain
Albert Brown, were loading their cargoea
of sugar at Bankok, Siam. Dawson, who
died only recently, was a genial, whole.
souled fellow, a great wit, a practical
joker, and wherever he went always made
friends. The owner Of the Cashmere,
Alfred Richardson, was distinguished fol
no one of these qualities. He was stern
and morose, his prevailing characteristic
being an inordinate love of money and a
disposition to squeeze it out of his en-.
ployes on all favorable occasions. Dawson
had, by his pleasant manner, so in
gratiated himself with his consignee al
Siam that he was presented by him with 8
rather extraordinary cumshaw," or moi
usually received with thanks, but pres
ent that was really valuable if it could be
brought safely home-an elephant. 1t was
baby elephant just weaned, and as it re-
quired by no means such extensive accom-
modations as those allotted to Jumbo, the
Captain slowed him away under the mair
hatch, where there was plenty of room fol
him, and, the ship not being full of sugar,
boxed the hatch around with rough sort
of ventilator, laid in a extra supply of wa
ter, rice and such other elephant susie.
nance as the passenger required, congratu
lated himself on the probability of sue
cessful adventure, and got under way fol
Boston.
In the meantime, while these prepara.
tions were going on, the Sachem had com
pleted her cargo and sailed. Having start
OF a week, and being somewhat faster
ship, she arrived about ten days before the
Cashmere, and reported her for it must
be remembered that there were no tele
graphs or even steamships in those days
Five months were often occupied in bring
ing the news. So when Captain Brown ar
rived he brought the latest intelligence
from Dawson, and among other things told
of the cumshaw."
When the Cashmere passed Boston light
the wind was ahead, and, the tide soon
running ebb, she anchored in Nantucket
Roads. Tugboats being unknown, the
Captain left the ship in charge of the pilot,
to be brought up to town on the next day,
and took shore boat himself. He was a
prompt business man, and knowing that
his owner appreciated this quality, he
brought his papers and accounts with him,
and presented himself at the Office imme.
diately ON landing. He had made good
voyage; the price of sugar was high, and
SO he received cordial greeting. The
papers were at once produced.
"Here are my disbursements and my
accounts current" said Captain Dawson.
"You will find them all correct, sir.
overdrew little, and there is balance
due you of 1864 25."
Nh. Richardson scanned the documents,
carefully added up the columns and pro-
nounced them satisfactory. Except one
thing, Captain. You have not allowed me
any freight on that elephant"
elephant p returned the Captain.
"Who told you had an elephant 2"
"Oh, I know all about it, replied Mr..
Richardson "and l didn't. think you
would try to smuggle him in this way"
Dawson did not permit himself to show
any resentment, but calmly argued that
the elephant was presented to him, that he
occupied room otherwise vacant, and that
he provided at his own coat for his food
and water.
"'Twon't do, 'twon't do, sir, replied
the calculating shipowner, the ship Is
mine, and | shall charge you freight-or,
he added after some reflection, 81 will
take the elephant over for my account.
He ought to bring good price at show,
and you had that object in view, hadn',
you ?"
Captain Dawson acknowledged that he
had.
"Well," replied Mr.. Richardson, "peo.
pie speak of me as being close, and all
that, but I'll show you that l am not.
There I'll take him over and square
our account.
"Tm in your power, Mr.. Richardson, u
replied tine Captain, mournfully "but it
is hard on me, for did think when l got
the elephant that l would get 50, 600 for
him at least. Can't you make it any
more ?"
Mr.. Richardson was pious man, but he
answered, "Not one-cent !" ana SO the
bargain was completed.
On the next day the Cashmere came up
to the city. Mr.. Richardson and the Cap
tain stood upon the wharf, the latter
experimenting the hauling in.
''Mr. Hallett," shouted the owner to
Vic CllIel iuaSc, 1ou hii5hO % "oiA ~ 81
ting up tackle to hoist out the elephant. "
faye, aye, sir" returned the mate
cas- soon as she is in at the wharf.
"Mind, be careful not to hurt him" re-
turned the owner, thinking OF the two OF
three thousand dollars in store for him.
Whereupon Captain Dawson disre.
spectfully punched his elbow into the
owners side and whispered in his ear
"Guess he can't be hurt much. He died
day before yesterday off Cape Cod. He'll
look well stuffed and it won't cost you
anything to feed him"
1t was the old Captains last voyage, and
he felt independent. He made more than
1864 25 out of that dead elephant, for he
used afterward in his subsequent career oi
wharfnger on Granite wharf to spin thi,
yarn and lie back in his chair laughing
with laugh that prolonged his life at tn,
remembrance of the way in which hi
squared his account.-[New York Evening
Post,