The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-25

A Showman's Story-How Arstingstall Quelacd
the Fury of Herd of Elephants.

a ShOWman'S Story-HOW ArsttngsCali uuei&DU
the Fury of a Herd of Elephants.
Philadelphia Times.
Talking about the sagacity of elephantSNkl
said William H. Gardner one Of Barnum's trust3
advance agents, yesterday, Il tell you they
know a good deal more than some human beings
that run across once in while. Their cute
ness is simply wonderful To prove what say
] need only tell you what happened under my
own observation. The show made stand ons
day late In the last season at the town of Ottum-
wa, la. 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 ele-
plant trainers connected with Barnums show,
were away at their breakfast the thirty-one
elephants that form the herd were left UNDER
the care of the subordinate keepers.
sOld Chieftain, the giant Of the herd, who
also has the honor of being the father of Column
bia, the Bridgeport baby elephant, had shown
signs of uneasiRess for some days before the
arrival of the show at Ottumwa, but Arstng~
stall went to his breakfast convinced that he
would behave himself during his absence. No
sooner had Arstingstall and Newman disap-
peared 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
keepers, seized him with his trunk and threw
him fully thirty feet, Fortunately the keeper
struck upon the shelving side of the sideshow
tent and was not badly hurt. Not Satisfied
WITH THIS 0xnlD1ClOn OK MS strength. CnlefCa16
broke the chain that, fastened to a stake in tho
ground and to one of his forelegs, was consid-
cred strong enough under ordinary circuui-
stances 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 trum-
pet unless they are fighting mad, and when one
trumpets all that hear HIM join in the chorus.
The loud noise made by Chieftain excited the
whole herd, most of whom were fastened by
ropes only and general stampede began. Tho
underkeeper ran for their lives, and did mon
stop until they had gained the shelter of neigh
boring hotel Meanwhile Chieftain, who has q
special grudge against 'Scotty, the keeper
who has had charge of Jumbo ever since his
arrival in this country, made his way to tho
side-show tent in which Jumbo was standing
But rapid as were his movements, he could mos
deceive the king of elephants. who seemed to
know instinctively what the Infatuated beast
moniously with his mighty trunk, Jumbo lifted
him as easily as a man would lift baby, and
placing him between his fore legs, reached our
with his trunk and trumpeted challenge thak
seemed to say Touch him if you dare
The oold front of Jumbo, and his monstrous
size, seemed to awe Chieftain, furious and rs-
vengeful as he was, and he come to q full stop
a few feet from the entrance to the tent just
at this moment Mr.. Bailey, one Of the proprie-
tors of the show, who had owned Cheftain Cor
several years, and had been familiar with him
entered the tent and fearlessly approached thu
Infatuated elephant. He had the narrowess
escape of his life. Swinging his trunk around.
Chieftan sought to crush him. Thanks to his
agility, Mr.. Bailey enabled to evade tho
stroke but. seeing that the beast was beyond
his control, he crawled under the canvas By
this time nearly all the elephants had brokea
their tethers and stampeded down the main
street of the village. Chieftain, as if thinking
twice about joining issue with Jumbo rusheA
through the canvas wall of the tent as if 1t were
tissue paper and joined his companions
Gas the herd stampeded down the main street.
they had to pass the hotel at which ArstingstaH
and Newman were breakfasting The latter
rushed out into the street bareheaded while tho
herd we're within thirty feet of the front door,
and holding up his hands, as was his his habit
when performing them in their military drill no
shouted: "Haltl' The command was obeycd i'm
stantly, and the herd drew themselves into lima
of battle as methodically as though they were in
the ring performing before thousands of spectar
tors. In few minutes they marched quietly
back to the circus grounds and submitted pas
sively to be tethered to their posts"
'How was it that this wonderful story did NOT
get into the newspapers, Mr.. Gardner" asked
one Of those who had listened to the old show
mans tale.
II can't tell you except that there was no
newspaper man present. You know man
connected with the show would give such thing
away. only tell it now because it will do no
harm, for such thing can never happen again