The Portland daily press., 1885-09-25
JuMRo'S BIOGRAPHY.
Short History OF the Biggest Animal
Ever In Captivity.

Jumbo was probably the largest animal
ever in captivity. He was of the African
species, and was at least % years old. When
baby he was taken to the London Zoologi-
cal Gardens, and as he grew up was used to
carry children around on his back, and was
always kind. AS he grew older he became
unruly when confined, and for this reason, it
is said, was sold when Mr.. Barnum made the
offer to buy him. When it became known
that definite contract to sell him had been
made for $4,000 much indignation was ex-
pressed, and there was a popular craze ON
the subject in England Jumbo became the
chief topic of the day, and his removal from
the country was lamenued as national ca
lamity. The Prince of Wales tried to stop
the sale, and an injunction suit in chancery
was started, the matter was brought up in
the House of Commons and Ruskin wrote Of
it: England is not in the habit of parting
with her pets If stone walls and chains are
necessary to confne Jumbo, England has the
stone and iron, and need not go to America
for them" Every effort was made to pre-
vent it, even including an injunction suit in
chancery, and the matter was brought before
the House of Commons. The members of
the council, roundly denounced as they were,
adhered to their legal contract, and late in
March, 1882, Jumbo was embarked for the
United States on board the steamship AS
syrian Monarch. For weeks before his de-
parture he was visited by crowds of men,
women and children of all classes of society,
who went to take a farewell look at Jumbo
and to feed him with buns and other delica-
cies. Popular feeling ran so high that there
We're rulnorS that a riot would take place
when he was conveyed through the streets to
the steamship dock. The accounts of the ar
engagements for his ocean voyage were wide
" published The ship bearing him arrived
i'll New York on Sunday, April, 8, 1882, and
Jumbo was landed safely and in good condi-
ton. The elephant and the immense iron
bound box in which he was Gagged weighed
together 125 tons. The box and its freight
were hoisted from the steamship by. a float
ing derrick, which was lowed to the pier,
and the Imprisoned elephant was then hauled
by is horses to the Madison Square Garden,
which was occupied by Barnum's circus. The
height of Jumbo was lift. Gin. His immense
bulk was such that a front view of him was
about as imposing as a side view. Other ell
ephants looked like pigmies beside him. His
trunk for several feet after leaving his head
was a. thick as a stout mans body. When
he lifted his head and stretched his trunk
upward he could reach UP 26 feet, or five
feet higher than the largest of the other ele-
plants in his owners extensive herd.
Barnum had advertised European tour
with his great show and Jumbo" for next
season. The money loss upon the animal
will be heavy, though whether it falls upon
Mr.. Barnum or the Grand Trunk Railroad is
as yet uncertain. The elephants skeleton
will be preserved by Prof. Baird in the
Smithsonian Institution at Washington
while his skin will be stuffed and given to
the Barnum museum of natural history at
| Tufts College.
He was not covered by insurance. AL
| though Mr.. Barnum said at the time Jumbo
was brought to this country that he had him
insured for nearly 100000, his statement APP
piled only to the voyage across the Atlantic.
This heavy insurance was simply marine
risk, which expired ON the animals landing
If Mr. Barnum had any insurance on Jumbo
it was fire Insurance. for which he must have
paid an enormous premium and rate, and
which, under the present circumstances, he
could not recover.