Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-29
srBDUING AN ELEPHANT.
Swinging Him in the Air to Bring Him
IN RaaaaA

Swinging Him in the Air to Bring Him
to Reason.
1t took a dozen men five days of last
week, says the Philadelphia Times, to
break the spirit OF vicious elephant in
the winter quarters of Adam Forepaugh's
menagerie. Early in February one of
Mr.. FOrepaugh's European agents bought
four elephants and shipped them to this
country. The huge beasts reached New
York two weeks ago, and were at once
transferred to Philadelphia. Three were
dOcile, but the other, Ajax, is a tusker, s
feet high, and vicious.
On reaching the city he became sullen,
but Jack Forepaugh, who has charge Of
the winter quarters, believing that the
brute would become good-natured in a
day or two, hitched him to a post and
locked him up for the night. A few hours
later Ajax broke his chains, butted down
the irOn-bound door of his room, and
rushed into an apartment in which a
dnZen of the more peaceable elephants
live. He attacked performing elephant
named BaZie and desperate fight began.
! Five. or SIX of the small elephants broke
! loose. Their frightened cries soon excited
every animal in the buildings, ana the
air was filled with roars that aroused the
| neighbOrhoOd. Tue night keepers were
afraid TO attempt to separate Ajax and
BaZie, who were trumpeting and charg-
| ing at each other with great fury. When
their huge bodies came together at the end
/ OF every rush the shock could be felt
/ throughout the place.
Jack FOrepaugh was sent for, hut before
/ he arrived the Waterman discovered that
| Ajax and BaZie We're so engaged with
II NH..wr a
was going on about them. The doors were
| opened, and all the elephants except the
/ fighters were driven out. BY the time
! this was accomplished MIR. Furepaugh
1 arrived. He has had 80 years experience
| with lid animals, and stands no more in
] fear OF an elephant than an ordinary per-
son does of a dog. Grasping an elephant
| hOOk-a spike and hook on stout ham
! dle-he ran between the furious beasts
and ordered Bazie back. Bazie Obeyed,
but the blood OF the new elephant was up
and he charged on the man, who eluhcd
| him and fastened the hook in the beasts
ear. Ajax turned and bore down upon
/ HIM. Inc trainer stabbed him with the
spike and lodged behind a post. Ajax
butted the post down as though it WAS
reed. The other men ran to Mr.. Fore
paugh's assistance and assailed the ele-
plant from so many points that he paused
irresOlute. During that pause a chain
was passed about one Of his hind legs and
fastened to an anchored ring. This rem
dered him almost helpless. His other
legs were hOObled and he was left alone
until daylight, BaZie being driven off to
another part 0 the quarters.
On Tuesday morning jaX was as sui
len and vicious as ever. Bad elephants
sometimes remain in this mood for days,
aad no man can approach them with safe
ty. Until such an elephants spirit is
broken, he is worse than useless. Steps
We're at once taken to convince Ajax that
he must obey his keepers. Of the Sc ele-
phants under FOrepaugh's care none was
as hard TO subdue as Ajax.
The work of cOnqueTIng the proud
spirit Of Ajax began at O'Clock on Tues
DAY morning and ended shortly before
noon yesterday. Beating mas no effect
upon mad elephant. 1t only renders
him more stubborn and wicked. The
breakers only hope is to convince such
an animal that he is powerless against
man. Taat accomplished the beast be-
comes as dOcile as elephants ever are. On
Tuesday morning four hawsers were
passed through immense pulleys attached
to beams under the roof. Tnen a set OF
harness, shaped something like monster
shawl strap, was fastened about AjAX's
defiant body. The leather straps, which
were three-ply thick covered small chains.
All the leather plates were copper riveted
and a foot wide. Ajax looked as though
he were in armOr after being encased.
Three hours were spent in getting the har-
ness on him, and during the job he slight
ly Injured TWO Of the keepers.
Through iron rings, supported by great
chains, were passed the haWseTs. Then
a dozen men grasped TWO OF the lines of
rope that passed through pulleys, and be.
fore Ajax knew it bis hind feet were
feet above the ground, and he stood on his
front ones in the most approved perform
Ing elephant style. For moment ne was
paralyzed with establishment, but surprise
gave place to fury When he appreciated
tne ridiculous posture he was in. He
surged and trumpeted and Tapped his
ears, but all to know purpose.
When his struggles subsidized some of
the men ran of with the front ropes, and
in a jitfy AjaX's body was suspended in
the air. He made the most frantic efforts
to tear the betting off with his trunk, but
the chains between his fore legs and
around his shoulders prevented it. There
the monster brute hung as helpless as an
infant. He was free to kick and plunge
and butt the air as much as he pleased.
From time 10 time he was lowered, so that
he might r. st his legs, but none of the
men were allowed to approach or worry
him. in the evening be was lowered and
fed, and allowed to spend the night on the
ground, thinking over the indignities that
had been put upon hini.
After his breakfast on the following
morning ne was tTussed up as before. He
resisted, but his efforts were unavailirg.
He was d stOut-sDlriJed brute, however,
and the second days punishment only
seemed to increase his rage. When he
came down to supper he was the maddest
elephant that ever trumpeted in Fore
psush's winter quarters. At the sight of
the harness on Wednesday he became
greatly excited. Mr. Forepaugh said he
was coming 10 his senses" This, how
ever, did not prevent him from being
hOisted up again. He SuTged about less
in his comfortable swing on Thursday,
but otherwise be was as stubborn and dan
geTOus as ever. An anchor was sunk D
feet in the ground and covered with earth
in another part of the quarters. Only a
ring was exposed. AjaX's forelegs were
pitched to the ring on Friday morning.
Ropes were attached to his hind legs,
which were then drawn out, leaving
him "spread-eagled" on his stomach on
straw.
Jack Forepaugh walked over AiaX's
PROSTATE body every few minutes. The
elephant was let up and thrown down
several timt durir 2 the day After three or
four hours experience Of this kind Ajax
became meekeT, and he was quite detected
" hen, in the evening, he was unclaimed
and ordered to stand up. He was hObbled
and thrown down on Saturday morning,
and when his body touched the ground he
cried out, and tears trickled down his
trunk. He was conquered. The chains
were removed at once, and he got up
quietly. At the word of command he
walked into the room be had broken out
of on Monday night, and was as meek
as sheep. Next week be will begin the
training necessary before he appears in
public.
THE BOSS or VENEZUELA.
Some of tho Capers of the Dictator Guz-
man Blanco.