San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-23
JumbO's Story.

Y Is' was caught and carried into cap,
iiS;tv. his first destination being Par,
J! WI where he was kept until he was
ionr wears old. He was then purchas,
y ,S nv the Geological Society, of Lon,
T. I'm, England, and removed to Their
u asriens in that city. He arrived there
= lime, 1865, when he was placed in
.harce of Mr.. Scott, and has been his
, onstant and special care ever since.
IA was then four feet ten inches in
bspht, and did not weigh ne.third
As as, much as he does at present.
IN addition to his great size, there
are several peculiar physical features
'bout Jumbo which have excited
mich curiosity among naturalists and
have led some eminent scientists to
avpress the opinion that he is not an
slephant at all, but that he is allied
ID the old and now extinct mastodon
,necies. In his back there is deep
hollow, where in other elephants there
is a large convex curve, and his head
Is curved in a marked manner where
other elephants are hollow. His
Knees, too, are not in the same places
as those of other elephants. They are
much nearer to his thighs, making
the upper part of his leg unusually
short, and the under part unusually
long. His growth was quite gradual
and was not distinguished by any
marked or peculiar changes. !
As he grew in years and in size, he
also grew in knowledge and wisdom,
and is now one of the most sagacious
Of his species. He is very fond of
society, and is never happier than
when contributing to the amusement
and entertainment of vast crowds OF
people. His peculiar favorites, how
ever, are little children, vino are al
ways treated by him with the great
est care and gentleness. He knows
when a crowd of them is OH his back,
and it is noticed that he always walks
more gently at such times than on
ordinary occasions. He will allow
thelttle ones to handle his trunk and
play among his feet, and is very care
full not to trample on them OF injure
them in any way. On one occasion
he was carrying a load of children
in the Geological gardens when lit
tie one, unobserved by the keeper,
crossed his path and stood right in
his way. The sagacious animal stop
ped at once in it's course and for a
wonder refused to 60 on when ordered
TO do so. The keeper then went
around to see what was the matter
Ind found Jumbo picking up the lit
lie one, which was right at his foot,
md placing him carefully out of his
way. When he had accomplished
his he went on as if nothing had
He is at all times very
,bedient and shows great affection
or his keeper. He arrived in this
country in April, 1882, and has been
in visiting the principal cit
es ever since. AS a traveller Jumbo's
equation is not a very brilliant one.
When crossing the ocean in stormy
Weather he was very often restless and
many signs of fear, and
ometimes on the cars he manifests
he same symptoms. When kept
INSTANTLY on the move these disap-
ear, however; but when he remains
Or any length of time in one place
e seems unwilling to get into his car
gain, and, when travelling, he is very
estless at night. He is very clearly
I all his habits and enjoys a bath in
eep water immensely. He walks
ito the river OF lake of his own &C
ord, and throws the water all over
imself with his trunk, OF lies down
it and rolls about. He sleeps but
tile, and then very lightly, never in
ulging in repose more than three or
'ur hours out of the twenty-four.
4 sleeping he lies in very much the
lme position that a horse would.
His food consists IF grain, bran,
az, vegetables, such as carrots or
eet roots etc., and of these he con-
lines between 500 and 600 pounds
er day. He drinks about three bar
is of water day. When he is hun
y he has his own way of asking for
cd. He blows through his trunk
Id makes a noise very much resemb-
lg a tugs whistle, and when food is
ought he will raise his trunk and
zen his mouth wide for his keeper to |
ace his food in it. Big and tall as |
lmbois he has not attained his full !
re yet, and will continue togrow Tor
rec or four years to come. de has
own considerably since his arrival
this country. His tusks have
L l. L.