Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-12-25
BARNUM SUCCEEDS AT LAST.
SECURING A WHITE ELEPHANT.
ruE PRICE PAID $50, ooO-To ARRIVE HERE
MKT JUNE.

THE PRICE PAID $40, Ooo-To ARRIv. HERE
MKT JUNE.
Mr.. Barnum and his partners have
been trying for years TO get sacred white
elephant. Their agent, Mr.. Gaylord,
visited the court of Siam for that purpose
last spring, obtained an audience with
the King, and stated his errand. The
King, with an air of establishment at the
request, referred Mr.. Gaylord to his aged
uncles, who, he said, were his advisers
An interview was. obtained with one Of
the sncles, and Mr.. Gaylord told him that
100000 or more would be given foE the
elephant, or half that sum for its use for
exhibition purposes for two years, The
Siamese Prince Indignantly replied "Sir,
You know that the Siamese worship the
white elephant that the King demands
for them the same care and respect that
is accorded to his Majesty or any mem.
Der of the royal family that we believe
the spirits Of deities and the spirits of our
Kings possess these sacred animals. Now
suppose the King of Siam should ask
the President Of the United States to sell
or loan him the tomb of Washington for
exhibition in Siam, what would be the
reply; Do you suppose that hundreds
of millions of money would influence his
decision: Sir, you have my answer, and
advise you to hasten your departure
from Bangkok, lest the vengeance of our
COur, end all the Siamese people over
take you for your blssphemous presump-
ton"
Mr.. Gaylord Quilted the Siamese Cat
i,sl the same day ard FASTENED to British
India, whence he cabled the facts to Mr..
Barnum. His visit to the Siamese capt.
ital and his proposition TO the King were
talked about throughout the Eastern
country. Il soon became known that the
owners Of Jumbo would give 100000
or mole for sacred white elephant. A
month later three Siamese sought out
Mr.. Gaylcrd at Moulmein, in British
Burmah.
They knew of d .acred white elephant
which had been captured by Siamese
nobleman, who was at ,wen;y-days'
journey on foot from Bangkok, and Mr..
Gaylord signed contract to give them
500, 900 il they would purchase the an
imal-s25. 900 upon arrival a, Moul-
mein, So, 900 upon delivery on steamer
at Singapore, and $4,000 upon arrival
in good health a, San Francisco In for
~ days the elephant arrived at Moulmein
The party had travelled stealthily by
night, all being liable to instan, death II
they were caught smuggling this sacred
animal on, Of the country. Gaylord paid
the first instalment of $4,000 ard the
elephant was shipped to Singapore, where
he was killed By poison, supposed to
have been administered by Siamese ennis
saries. This fact was cabled 10 New
York last May. Mr. Barnum and his
partners cabled Mr. Gaylord to offer
5000, 900 for white elephant owned by
some po,entate, $4,000 on arrival in
British India, s5O,OOO on arrival in Cal
TO, $4,000 on delivery in London, and
the remaining $4,000 on arrival in
New York. This offer stirred up hun
dreds Of fortune hunters in Asia, and the
result is, that, after months Of diploma
cy and large brides TO courtiers, white
elephant has been purchased from the
notorious and cruel King Theebau, Of
Burmsh, with all the royal documents
under seal establishing its genuineness.
The price paid by p. T. Barnum and
his partners, James A. Bailey and J. l..
Hutchinson, is 100000 in gold. The
| first ins,alment of $685. has been paid
and the animal is now under the care Of
Barnum's agents in India, J. B. Gaylord,
Robert White and +. II. Davis. The
following dispatches have been received ::
RANGooN, Nov. q, 1888.
To BARNUM, BAILEY & HUTCHINSON:
Money received. Secured genuine sa-
cred white elephant, with royal documents
from King Theebau. Cost 10000. Can
ship only on deck Wilt be safe by build
ing strong warm house' Steamers leave
monthly for England [Slguedl
GAYLORD
hANGOON, nov. ~ 1909.
To BARNUM, BAILEY { HUTCHINSON
White, with two native assistants, leave
with sacred elephant December s, steamer
Tenasserum. Building strong warm house
amidships. Captain guarantees safe deliv
cry, London or Liverpool. Positive port
known at Suez. Shall obtain hairy peo-
pie. Wrote full details from Mandalay.