Daily Yellowstone journal., 1885-10-18
ELEPHANT TALK.
INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN VIII
BROUGHT JUMBO TO AMERICA
History Of the Largest Elephant That
Ever Liyed-Many PeeulIaritiss Of
Fating aud Drinking About Ele-
plants in General
Inter Trrnn.l

]Jumbo was certainly a won lerful Ella
plant" sail Mr. Davis, "and his history is
full of intere t. lie was born on the west
coast OF Africa in or about the year 1861
and was consequently "a years of age-jast
in his prime. Wuen still baby he was
caught and carried into captivity, his Fir
destination being PARIS, wusre no was kept
TIL he wai year, VI age. He was then
purchased by tine illogical society of l. IL
don, England, AM removed to their gar
dens in Laat cIIy. lie arrived there IN Ju.is,
lsO5 He Wa, then four teet ten inches IN
height At the time VI his death he was
eleven fest TOUR inches IN height When
Standing in "A natural position the distance
20 the top OF his head was twelve feet live
inches. His actual weight was seven aud a
half tons
"ln addition to b IS great size there we're
several peculiar physical features about
JumGo which excited much curiosity
among naturalists anI led some eminent
scientists TO EXPIRE IS the opinion that he was
not an elephant at all, but that be was al
lied to the old and now extinct mastolon
'PecieS In his back there was deep hol.
low, WHERE in other elephants, there was
large convex curve, and hi' heal was
curved in marked ma ner where other
elephants are hollow. His knees, too, were
not In the same place as are those OF otleI
elephant. They we're much nearer his
thighs, making the upper part OF his leg
unusually short and the under part unusu.
ally long
HIS LIFE AT THE zoo.
Nothing of particular interest oo-
cured to vary the ordinary cJursS OF hI'
everyday life until hs was IL years Of age
He was then taken violently sick, and 80 i'll
did he become that It was thought he would
die. He was very low for three weeks, lut
gradually his disease began To yield TO tbs
remedies applied, and Jumbo recovere :.
His growth was quite gradual, AMI was not
distinguished by any marked or pecul ar
changes As he grew In years and sizs he
grew in knowledge and wisdom He was
very fond of society. and was never happier
than when contributing O. the amusement
and entertainment Of vat crow Is OF people
His special favoritss, however, we're
little children. who were always treated
by MIN with the greatest care AMI gentle
hess lie knew when a crowd Of them vers
mounted upon his back. He allowed the lit
lie ones 10 handle his trunk AMI play among
his feet and was very careful not TO trampe
on them or injurs them in any way. Ga
one occasion he was carrying a load OF chill
dren in the Geological gardens when little
one unobserved by his keeper crossed his
path and stood right in his way. The saga
cious animal at once stopped his course and
for a wonder refused to go on when ordered
to so do The keeper tnen went round to
rhat ha M Ia. h.
gently picking up the little one. which was
right at his feet, with his trunk. AMI placing
him carefully out Of his way. When he had
accomplished this be went on a, II nothing
had occurred
"wHAT DID JUMBO COST"
"Mr. Baruum paid the Geological aSsocis-
tim $4,000 for him as lie stood in the gar
dens in London. 1t took nearly years ne
gotiating to secure him even for that sum,
as many Of the FOOL lgical garden directors
wers greatly opposed to his sale Toe only
thing that induced the Englishmen TO part
with him was the fact that be was becom.
ing unruly and dangerous. The superin-
tenient Of the garlens had made a report
to that effect"
"Has Jumbo ever done anything 10 Justify
MS PhAuAAbh uuNuIct
"No-on the contrary, he has always be-
haved with the utmost decorum-exeepting
when we attempted to transfer him from his
yard In the Geological gardens TO the
steamer that was to convey him 10 America.
There are only a few steamships large
enough to carry him. ] had arranged for
his passage on one Of these. The landing
was eleven miles distant from his garden.
Il. = - \ =
seen a horse for eighteen years We chained
him securely and then tried 10 lead him to
the steamer. We hal hardly left the in
closure before he reeliz,1 that something
strange was ON and he imms lately lay
down in the center Of the road AMI Refused
10 bulge an inch.
A CASE or OBsTINACY.
~All our efforts all our persuasion was OF