Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-03-22
PERSONAL ReMINIsceNoes OF JuMeo.
Anecdotes Of the Great Elephant Told by
His Keeper. Matthew Scott.

Anecdotes of the Great Elephant Told by
His Keeper. Matthew Scott.
we'll remember when it was announced
sighteen years ago, that an African
elephant, with immense ears like folding
parlor doors, would soon arrive, and the
managers decided to put me in charge Of
him. There was great excitement when
the boat arrived from Paris, and IL seemed
as IL all the boys and girls in London
turned out to see him. The little elephant
was curiosity on account of his peculiar
shape and big ears, and the members of
several learned societies came to examine
him. The name gave him, Jumbo, had
noparticular Significance; in fact, don't
think had ever heard it.
From the natives where he was captured
1t was learned that Jumbo was years
of age, and took delight in telling the
visitors that he would grow to be the
biggest elephant in the world This
judged from the peculiar size and proper
tions of his bones in relation to the body
and / resolved soon after that / would
make study of feeding him. He was
then sickly and in bad state of health
generally. Jumbo and myself were fast
friends the first time we met and he
would be governed by none of the other
keepers He was like great good-natured
boy, and he took special fancy to children
and ladies, and was never so happy as
when he could carry back-load of little
ones around the park. His passengers
included children of royalty and nobility
and as he grew rapidly, a larger saddle
was necessary every few months.
One day as Jumbo was passing through
q crowd he suddenly stoppedsand would
not move an inch when commanded him
49, .oI II. 7
observed that lady below was much
agitated as she came running toward
Jumbo. Leaning over the side of the
saddle, saw that child of 2 or years
had fallen in our pathway, and was lying
betweenJumbo's fore-feet. The beast would
not stir until he had taken up the infant
tenderly in his trunk and passed it over
to the mother
JUMBO GETTING LONESOME.
Six years ago Jumbo had turns of fret
fiilness which alarmed the directors, and
they even went so far as to purchase
blunderbusses with which to shoot him If
he became mad and unmanageable
told them that elephants were social
animals, and that what allied Jumbo was
the want of society with his own species
AS Mr.. Barnum had score or two of
elephants in his great American show,
Mr.. A. d. Bartlett, superintendent of the
Geological gardens, advised the sale of
Jumbo at greatly reduced price. Mr..
Barnum offered $4,000, and the directors
accepted it, on the condition that he
should take him as he stood, as they
would run no risks of removing him. The
bargain was made and it was one of the
happiest days of my life when l found
that was to accompany my old friend
across the water
When Jumbo had got to be good-sized
boy another African elephant was brought
to the Geological gardens. This was
female, and we named her Alice. She is
now there, and her age is 20 years, four
years less than Jumbos age. She is of
the same build, and very affectionate, but
does not display the same affection for
children.
Jumbo and Alice always went out to-
gether, and whenever he was taken for a
promenade she was uneasy unless she
could go too. Her affection for me was
very marked, and when / return to Eng
land / expect to be greeted by her with
cordial demonstrations of elephant pleas
ure. She was growing fast when l left
her, and she has six or seven years to grow
yet The children call her now, as then,
Jumbo's wife.
Jumbo was unlike any other elephant
In Mr.. Barnum's great herd 1t would
never do to punish him or to force him to
obey. Mr.. Arstingstall holds sway over
nearly fifty great animals (any one of
which might pick him up and hiirl him as
boy would a>rat) solely because they
fear him Not so with Jumbo He
minded me because he loved me. Many
years ago it was that he began to show his
affection for me, and he never betrayed
the confidence / placed in him. When
ever could make my wishes known to
him, he always obeyed Like child, he
would sometimes be peevish and sullen,
but at such times he would solicit ME to
pet him, and If | remained near, he would
soon get over his ill-feeling.
JUMBo's SOCIAL TRAITS.
We have travelled many thousands of
miles together in the magnificent car
built expressly for our use Ny sleeping
apartment was at one end of the car, and
my bed was near Jumbo. Unless was
In 1t he would not go to sleep, no matter
what hour of the night it might be. Some
times / would take short walk around
the city after the exhibition was over for
the day, and before the cars started.
Jumbo was always awake, and waiting
for his bit of cake and beer, or whatever /
had. He always shared my beer at night
Once forgot to give him his portion, and
after had dropped asleep he put his
trunk around me and lifted me out of my
bed then recollected the nip of beer
had left in the mug, not enough to wet
the old fellows throat, but as soon as he
got it he was satisfied.
He was mischievous, too, and often
times he would wait until / had fallen
asleep and then carefully take off my bed
clothes without awakening me. If it was
cold weather l would find the quilts
crowded in the ventilator overhead recol-
lect finding my coat and vest carefully
tucked into the grating of the car, out of
my reach. / looked for them for half an
hour, while Jumbo swung his trunk like
an enormous pendulum, as he always did
when expressing his delight. Finally he
directed my attention to the grating, and
at my request gave them back. Many
times Jumbo has picked me up and
placed me out of danger of various kinds
to which he fancied | was exposed, and in
several instances he saved my life When
the stampede of elephants took place last
year he caught me in his trunk and held
me prisoner between his fore feet until
the general alarm had subsidized.
do not like to review the details of
Jumbo's sudden death. He showed his
affection for me to the last moment, and
1t seems that he realized the danger to
which l was exposed. He first took care,
as he saw the fatal train coming, that
should be saved, and quickly put me out
of harms way Then he as quickly rolled