Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-09-23
JUMBO'S DEATH.
PARTICULARS of the Killing of the King of
Elephants.

circumstances attending the accidental
death OF the huge elephant Jumbo are
as follows: Between $50 and 8
O'Clock last night, Jumbo, along with
the other animals, was taken from the
circus tent and removed to the Lon
don d Port Stanley Railway station,
where the cars were ready to receive
them. Jumbo and the baby elephant,
who always "chummed" together,
were taken by their keeper from the
main track of the Air Line to the Lon
don d Port Stanley Railway track,
where the cars were being loaded. As
the two elephants were being led across
the track to the cars q special freight
train came up behind them along the
AIR Line track, which is straight for
considerable distance. 1t is supposed
that Jumbo first discovered the dan
ger himself, as he gave a few
loud, dismal sounds which star
tied every one for some dis
lance. The showmen rushed from
the ground, being well aware that
something was wrong. The men in
charge of the elephants soon became
aware Of the danger, but the only way
OF escape was to rush along the track
to a crossing and then leave the track
before the engine should reach them.
Jumbo did his best to get there, but
tailed. When short distance from
the crossing the engine struck the pair,
threw the baby elephant to one side,
breaking it's leg, and forced Jumbo to
the earth and pushed him along the
track until his body threw the engine
off inf he I4al1 Az
animation could be made it was seen
that Jumbo could not recover, there
being deep gashes in his fanks, and his
feet and legs very badly smashed.
When he died Mathew Scott, his keep
er, who had been with him twenty-one
years, threw himself on his body and
wept bitterly. 1t is the intention to
have Jumbo skinned and his hide and
skeleton preserved. The baby ele-
plant has been shipped to London
for treatment.
Jumbo was born on the west coast o
Africa in or about the year 1861, and was
consequently "a years OF age. When still
baby he was caught and carried into cap
tlvlty, his first destination being Paris,
where he was kept till hew years Of age
He was then purchased by the Geological
their gardens in that city. He arrived
there in June, 1865, when he was placed in
charge of Mr.. Scott. He was then feet 10
inches in height, and did not weigh one.
third as much as he did at the time of his
death. On his arrival in England Jumbo
was In very bad state OF health. He had
evidently been subject to neglect during his
stay in Paris, and when he left there he was
suffering from a skin disease, superinduced
" hin
and annoyance. His back was covered
with large scabs, flom under which
there was copious discharge Of
very offensive matter. Fortunately he
had fallen into the hands Of a
eman who knew how to treat him, and, the
remedies applied proving quite effectual, he
was restored to perfect health in a months
time. In addition to his great size there
were several peculiar physical features
about Jumbo which excited much curiosity
among naturalists, and led some eminent
scientists to express the opinion that he
was not an elephant at all, but he was al
lied to the old and now extinct mastOdon
species. In his back there was a deep hol-
low, where, in other elephants, there was a
large convex curve, and his head was curved
III a marked manner where other elephants
are hollow. His knees, too, were not IN the
same place as are those OF other elephants.
They were much nearer his thighs. making
the upper part OF his leg unusually short
and the under part unusually long. Moth
ing Of very peculiar interest occurred to
vary the ordinary course OF his everyday
life till he was II years OF age. He was
then taken violently sick, and SO i'll did he
become it was thought he would die. In
deed at one time he had sunk so low that
it was believed by everybody but his keeper
that he was dead, and persons had actual
ly arrived at the place where he was kept
for the purpose of purchasing his skele-
ton. He was very low for three weeks.
but gradually his disease, which was inflam
nation of the bowels, began to yield to the
remedies applied, and Jumbo recovered.
His growth was quite gradual and was not
changes. AS he grew in years and size he
grew in knowledge and wisdom. He was
very fond Of society, and was never happier
than when contributing to the amusement
and entertainment Of vast crowds Of peO-
pie. His peculiar favorites, however, were
little children, who were always treated by
him with the greatest care and gentleness.
He knew when crowd Of them were mount
ed on his back. He allowed the little ones
to handle his trunk and play with his feet
and was very careful not to trample on
them or injure them in any way. On one
occasion he was carrying load of children
in the Geological Gardens when little one
unobserved by his keeper crossed his path
and stood right in his way The sagacious
animal at once stopped his course and for
wonder refused to go on when ordered to
do SO. The keeper then went around
to see what was the matter,
and found Jumbo gently picking
up the little one which was right at his
foot, with his trunk, and placing him care
fully out Of his way. When he had &C.
complished this he went on as if nothing
had occurred. When Jumbo lett England
he was followed by the regrets of all his &C
quaintances, including Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, who expressed her dissatisfaction
with his sale. He arrived in this country
in April, 1882, and had been engaged in
visiting the principal cities ever since. AS
traveller Jumbo's reputation was not
very brilliant one. When crossing the
ocean in stormy weather he was often very
restless and exhibited many signs of fear,
and sometimes on the cars he manifested
the same symptoms, Hisfood consisted of
grain, BRAN hay, vegetables, such as car
rots or beet roots, ETC., and of these ar
ticles he consumed between 500 and 600