The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-25
PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES OF JUMBO.
BY HIS KEEPER, MATTHEW SCOTT.

BY HIS KEEPER. MATTHEW sCOTT.
1t was in December. 1851. that my
name was entered on the books of the
Royal Geological Societv's Garden, at
II years of age, and my great desire
to be constantly among the animals
which | had visited ovcr and over
again was finally grntiiied.
My work rs assistant keeper was Ia
borious, but | did not shirk my duties
for fear of discharge. and the pleasure
l found in making friends OF the dumb
beasts made the working hours pass
quickly by. The most ferocious and
the widest animals seemed to be the
ones | liked best, and whenever an
elephant arrived ut the garden | was
usually the first to make friends with
him. Sonnet mes | found it impossi.
Bile to gain their confidence, and /
might tell of many q struggle with a
trcachcrous wildcat or hyena.
l we'll remember when 1t was an
nounced. eighteen years ago, that an
African elephant, with immense ears
like folding parlor doors, would soon
nlliNC, iIIt liz llltllitNSlS utCl(tu 10
put me in charge OF him. There was
great excitement when the boat ar
rived from Paris, and it seemed as if
all the boys and girls in London turn
ed out to see him. The little elephant
was a II osity III account of his
peculiar shape and biz ears. and the
members of several learned societies
came to examine him. The name |
gave him, Jumbo. had no particular
significance; in fact, l don't think |
had yer heard it.
From the natives where he was
captured 1t was learned that Jumbo
was . years of age, and | took delight
in tollng the visitors that he would
grow to be the biggest elephant in the
world. This l Judged from the
peculiar size and proportions of his
bones in relation to the body. and L
resolved soon afterward that l would
make a study of feeding him. lie
Of health generally. Jumbo and N.Y.
self were fast friends the first time we
met and he would be governed by none
of the other keepers. He was like a
great good natured boy, and he took
a special fancy to children and ladies,
and was never so happy rs when ho
could carry n back load of little ones
around the park. HIS passengers in
cluded children of royalty and nobility,
and as he grew rapidly, a larger sad
die was necessary every few months.
One day rs Jumbo was passing
through II crowd lie suddenly stopped,
and would not move an inch when |
commanded him to proceed. From
my seat in the saddle | observed that
a lady below was much agitated as she
came running toward Jumbo. Lean
ing over The side of the saddle, | saw
that 4 child of , Of 3 e had fallen
in DUR pathway. and was lying between
Jumbo's forc.fect. Tho beast would
not str until he had taken up the in
it over to the mother.
Mr.. Bnrnum. ten years ago, saw
Jumbo at the Gardens, and tried to
purchase him. When he offered 500
900 for him, ! was afraid the directors
would let him 60. and hat | would
lose my best friend. | didn't have
much to say to the great Snowman
and was net at all nXlou to exhibit
the points of my biz elephant, until
after the manager of the Garden had
assured me they would never allow
the animal to 90 TO America for any
price. SIX years ago, however, Jumbo
had turns OF :retfulness which alarm-
ed the directors, and they even went
SO far as to purchase ~blunderbusses
with which to shoot him if he became
mad and unmanagcable. told them
that elephants were soclal animals. and
what allied Jumbo was the want of
society with his W species.
AS Mr.. BarnEm had a score or two
OF elephants in his great American
show, Mr.. A. D. Cartlctt, Superinten-
dent of the Geological Gardens, advis-
cd the sale of Jumbo at n greatly re-
duced price. Mr.. Barnum offered
$4,000, and the directors accepted it,
on the condition that he should take
him as he stood. AS they would run nc
risk of removing him. The bargain
was made and it n the happiest days
of nv life when l found that l was tc
accompany my old friend across the
water,
The Journey is familiar to every boy
and girl in the land. Even those who
have not seen Jumbo on his travels
through the country have read how
Jumbo was boxed up and hoistcC
aboard The steamer. Assyran Mon
arch by means of enormous derricks,
and how, on his arrival in New York
in April in 1882, every paper in tho
land had columns OF interesting news
about the wonder III beast that had
now grown to be the largest known
animal in the world.
When Jumbo had got to be a good
sized boy another African elcphan'
was brought TO the Geological Gar
dens. This was n female, and w,
named her Alice. She is now there
and her age is 20 years, four yeals les!
than Jumbo's age. She is of thu
same build. and very atiectionate, bu
Ices not display the same affection TO
children.
Jumbo and Alice always went on
together, and whenever he was takei
for a promenade she was uneasy un
less she could 20 too Her atfectio,
for me was very marked, and when
return to England ! expect to b.
greeted by her with cordial demon
STATIONS of elephant pleasure. Sh'
was growing fast when | left her, ant
she has six or seven years to grow yet
The children call her now, as then
Jumbo's wife.
Jumbo was unlike any other Gle