The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-18
THE DEATH OF JUMBO.
Anecdotes of the Big Beast-How His Keeper
Ruled Him.
New York Special.


The announcement of the death of Jumbo at
st. Thomas Ont, has caused great deal of re-
| greet TO-DAY. MIR. p T Barntim, who is at the
Murray Hill Hotel said tonight:
II can't tell you how sorry am that Jurlbo
| has been killed. We were preparing to take
him back to England. and his death will now
| prevent US going at all.
How many children have seen Jumbo, Mr..
Barnump
About 100000 in this country, and as
| many more in England"
''Were those stories true about the Queen and
the Prince of Wales being SO loath to have Jumbo
| leave London2"
| Absolutely So We bought Jumbo for $l0,-
| 900 from the directors of the Geological Gardens
| in London. who sold him only because they
| were afraid of him. He had developed ten
| dency to ugly fits, and was in danger Of sacri-
| fclng life. For seventeen years the English
children had petted him in the Geological Gar
| dens but 1t seemed necessary to part with him.
| We heard Of the situation, offered $4,000 and
| the animal was ours. But as soon as the news
of his being sold announced. all England
was protesting. The Prince of Wales went to
| the gardens and tried to stop the SALE The
| Queen herself interposed with the same inten-
| tions; all London was in ferment. | got word from
| my agent saying that Jumbo could not be got
| out OF the gardens that he persisted in lying
| down, and that all efforts to make him move
| were unavailing | cabled him. Let Jumbo
| lie' 1t was the best advertisement for me.
| should have been willing to have him lie a
| month"
How did you get him to the steamers dock9'
| 'They constructed huge crate on wheels and
| had him put into it and hauled thither"
| Couldn't he have walked as wellp
Just as we'll; only the Royal Humane Society
| threatened US with imprisonment if we used
prod on him. So dragged him on wheels
through the streets of London and to the pier of
| the Monarch line There we were met by fresh
| diffculty-there was not room enough for him
| between decks. he being eleven and half feet
| HIGH and weighing seven tons. Parliament be-
| came so interested in the matter that a special
! act was passed providing for precautions against
| loss OF life by emigrants who accompanied Jumbo
| to America. We were compelled to cut hole in
| the upper deck in order TO let Jumbos head get
| through"
what discipline did he required"
| Scott ruled him by kindness. Our American
| trainers think that the prod is necessary; but
Scott says not He declares that he never used
| prod on Jumbo, ana never governed him ex-
| cept by kindness. 1t was wonderful how fond
Jumbo was of him. When travelling through
| the country we transported Jumbo by a special
| car, just large enough to go through the tun-
| nels. Scott slept in it with Jumbo. He is
great beer drinker and at night. before going to
| bed, he had quart of beer placed in the car,
and after drinking half of it himself, gave jumbo
the other half Jumbo always took
| it. One night Scott did not get the
beer and went to sleep without it.
| Presently Jumbo leaned over him, put his trunk
| around him, lifted him out of the bed and de-
| posted him on the floor. Scott took it as re-
minder that he hadn't received his beer. Some
| beer brought and Jumbo was quieted
| Although Mr.. Barnum said at the time Jumbo
| was brought to this country that he had had
him insured for nearly half million dollars,
his statement applied only TO the voyage across
| the Atlantic AT present there is no company
in the country that will take risks on live stock.
| If Mr. Barnum had any insurance Jumbo, it
| was fire insurance. for which he must have paid
| an enormous premium and rate and which. I'M
der the present circumstances, he could not re-
| cover.