The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-05-27
SAVED BY JUMBO.
He Rescaes his Keeper From the Rage Of
the Big Elephant Chieftnin.


Talking about the sagacity of elephants, y
said William Fl. Gardner, one of Barnum's
trusty advance agents, recently; 81 tell
yon they know good deal more than some
human beings that run across once in O
while. Their cuteness is simply wonderful.
10 prove what say need only tell what
happened under my own observation. The
show made stand one day late in last sea-
son at the town of Ottumwa, Iowa. One
OF the sideshow tents was put up before the
main tent in order to conceal Jumbo from
the countrymen. While George Arsting-
stall and William Newman, the principal
elephant trainers connected with Barnum's
show, were away at their breakfast the
thirty-one elephants that form the herd
were left under the care of the subordinate
keepers.
Old Chieftain, the giant of tho herd
who also has the honor of being the father
of Columbia, the Bridgeport baby elephant,
had shown signs of uneasiness for some
days before the arrival of the show at OF
tumwa and Arstingstall went to his break
FIST convinced that he would behave him.
self during his absence. No sooner had
Arstingstall and Newman disappeared than
old Chieftain, relieved of the restraint OF
his presence, began to show his true nature.
Without giving sign of the rage that was
IN him he charged one of the under-keep-
era, seized him with his trunk and threw
him fully thirty feet. Fortunately the
keeper struck upon the shelving side of the
side-show tent and was not badly hurt. Not
satisfied with this exhibition of his strength,
Chieftain broke tho chain that, fastened
to q stake in the ground and to one of his
fore legs, was considered strong enough un.
der ordinary circumstances to resist even
his power and having freed himself from
its bondage, began loud trumpeting that
could be heard mile away.
Elephants are something like village
dogs, who always bark in unison. They
never trumpet unless ley are fighting mad,
and when one trumpets ali that hear him
join in the chorus. The loud noise made
by Chicftain excited the whole herd, most
of whom were fastened by ropes only, and
general stampede began. The UNDER
keepers ran for their lives and did not stop
until they had gained the shelter of neigh.
boring hotel. Meanwhile Chieftain, who
has special grudge against 'Scotty,' the
keeper who has had charge of Jumbo ever
since his arrival in this country, made his
way to the side-show tent in which Jumbo
was standing. But rapid as were his move
ments he could not deceive tho king of ele-
plants, who seemed to know instinctively
what the Infatuated beast was in search of.
Selling Scotty unceremonously with his
mighty trunk Jumbo lifted him as easily as
man would lift baby, and placing him
between his forelegs reached out with his
trunk and trumpeted o challenge that seem,
ed to say, Touch him If you darev
=" The bold front of Jumbo, and his mon
strous size, seemed to awe Chieftain, fur.
ious and reyengeful as he was, and he came
to full stop few feet from the entrance
to the tent. just at this moment MIR.
Bailey, one of the proprietors of the show,
who Ind owned Chieftain for several years
and had been familiar with him, entered
thetentand fearlessly approached the infuri-
ited elephant. He had the narrowest es-
| cape of his life. Swinging his trunk around,
Chieftain sought to crush him. Thanks L,
his agility, Mr.. Bailey was enabled ia
eyade the stroke, but seeing that the beast
was beyond his control, he crawled under
the canvas. BY this time nearly oil tho ele-
plants had broken their tethers and stam-
peded down the main street of the village.
Chieftain as il thinking twice about join
ing issue with Jumbo rushed through the
canvas wall of the tent as If 1t were tissue
paper and joined his companions.
" AS tho herd stampeded down the main
street they had to pass the hotel at which
Arstingstall and Newman were breakfast
ing. The latter rushed out into the street
bareheaded while the herd were within
thirty feet of the front door, and holding
up both hands, as was his habit when per.
forming them in their military drill, he
shouted: Haiti" The command was
obeyed instantly and the herd drew them
selves into line of battle as methodically as
though they were in the ring performing
before thousands of spectators. In few
minutes they marched quietly back to the
circus grounds and submitted passively to
being tethered to their posts"
" How was it that this wonderful story
did not get into the newspapers, Mr.. Gard
ner?" asked ono of those who had listened
to the old showman's tale.
" can't tell you, except that there was
no newspaper man present. You know no
man connected with the show would give
such thing away. / only tell it now be.
cause II will do no harm, for such thing
can never happen again.-Phiia delphia
Times.
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