Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-03

WHO gymnaSJlc IealS. 1WO elephants
would sportively go for a third and
duck him under the water. Then
half & dozen of them would fill their
trunks with water and spurt it at each
other as children in the surf splash
water in each others faces with their
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 presently
the round black nozzle of his trunk
would appear on the surface, remind
ing the spectators that a beast with
such a long nose can remain out OF
sight under water as long as he pleases
il be only keeps the end of his breath
ing apparatus within reach of the fresh
air.
AN UGLY MONSTER.
Emperor" the large and uuruly
elephant, Who made such trouble last
summer when he escaped at Troy and
went on a rampage through the streets
of that city at night, showed a sport
lively riotous disposition. He acted as
if be was drunk and wanted to get up
a fight among the other elephants. He
is next to Jumbo in size and ten
times as frisky. He took several of the
little elephants q by one and tossed
them Over and around in the water as
if they we're cats. Two or three of the
little ones thought it was too much Of
a good thing and seemed to want to
unite their efforts to play a trick on
the monster and hold him under the
water. This they tried for a little
while, but soon got enough of it
They knew how ugly he could be
when he felt like it, and so. after q few
weak trials, they concluded to let him
alone. After awhile Emperor and
another elephant nearly as big as him
self took a notion to start off toward
the Long Island shore. Side by side,
as if harnessed together, they swan
msjestically away, as if to return no
more. When they had gone several
hundred yards one of the keepers put
after them in a rowboat and soon
caught up with them. He had a
pole with a hook at its end,
such as is used among elephants
for an instrument Of correction. After
be had given Emperor one punch
with this the beast turned and gave the
boat a push with his shoulder, indi-
cative of what be might further do if
annoyed. The boat began TO I'll and
the frightened keeper headed for
shore. As he turned the other ele-
phant gaze the boat a whack with bis
trunk asa little reminder. For a few
moments there was deep excitement
among the crowd, for nobody knew
but that the creatures might take it
into their heads 10 swim the whole
length Of Long Island Sound and
thence out to sea. Somebody sug-
sending 3 steam tug after
them, and others idiotically proposed
harpoons and ~lasso-ropes. The ven
cradle Barnum sat on the portieo of
the bathing pavilion neal by, and
laughed like a big hoy, heartily en-
the fun, and knowing that the
voice Of Arstingstsll the chief trainer,
would in time avail to prevent the
animals from being lost at sea. In a
few minutes Arstingtall's word Of
command was heard from the beach.
Instantly the swimmers turned and
headed for the shore, greeted BY
immense cheering from the crowd.
A SWIM OF TWO HOURS.
The whole swim of the elephantine
party lasted about two hours, to the
great delight OF the beasts themselves
and Of the Bridgeporters who we're
assembled TO see them. Interest 10
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
had they not been commanded TO come
out. When called to come to the
shore they obeyed very reluctantly,
performing all sorts OF capers. One
muscular elephant wound his trunk
around one of the posts supporting
the platform which extends out from
the bathing pavilion over the water Of
the sound. He was about TO pull this
post up, the effect of which would
have been to give a large party Of
people an unexpected bath. His
keeper told him to stop it. With the
air Of a boy caught 10 the act Of steal
log jam from his mothers pantry, the
beast let go Of the post, tucked his
trunk under his left fore leg an
ambled ashore.
Arrived at the pebbly beach the
elephants had to be chained or hob
bled to prevent them from doing mis-
chief as they paraded through the
streets to their winter quarters, which
are about half a mile frem the shore.
While the keepers we're adjusting the
chains the beasts made the most Of
their opportunity to have some fun
with the soft mud at the waters edge,
IN which they we're standing. Scoop
ing up as much of it as they could
conveniently handle with their trunks
they slung it around at each other and
at the bystanders. There was a sudden
scattering among the boys and others
who were thus visited with a baptism
OF mud. The claiming completed, the
whole party marched of as stately
and solemn as if no such picnic as
they had enjoyed had ever been heard
oil. Jnmhn was knnt ~ hnmn