Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-09-16
A HEIGHTENED ELEPHANT.

"Samson's daily rations consist of
three hundred pounds of baled hay,
two bushels of peeled turnips, bushel
OF seasonable fruit, apples, pears or
grapes, as it may be, besides the cakes,
candies, peanuts, ETC., that the Wis
ltors feed him; bran mash diluted
with two quarts of whisky, morning
and evening"; two gallons of milk, and
all the water he wants to drink, and
still George Conklin, his keeper,
thinks his elephantship has a dsinty
appetite, considering his immense
slze," remarked w. X. Peck, an avant-
courier Of Coles "New Colossal" last
evening, when questioned about the
big pachyderm that now wears the
mantle of the lamented Jumbo.
"Samson, you know" continued the
voluble CIRCUS emissary, sled a pro-
nounced aristooratc life until twelve
years old, spending this portion OF his
career on the plantation of his original
owner, the Crown Prince of British
Burmah. Samson's unusual precocity,
amiability and general cleverness,
developed in his early youth, made
him conspicuous figure among his
masters herd of two hundred ele-
plants. Unlike his companions,
Samson was never made to do manual
work. He was petted and pampered
as probably no other elephant ever
was, or ever will be. The mythical
care and adulation bestowed upon the
chlmerical white elephants of India
were veritable reality in Samson's
case. His growth was e;,traordi-
narily rapid, and at ten years of age
he was accounted the biggest and
most symmetrically formed elephant
in all India. His appearance in the
state professions at Mandalay always
aroused an intense popular excite
ment. During a game of the seduc-
tive draw poker, introduced in Bur-
nah by an American drummer the
Prince, who was an inveterate gam
bier, wagered and lost his favorite,
Samson. Being financially impover-
ished at the time by a series of heavy
gaming losses, the Prince was unable
to redeem the animal, which soon
after fell into the hands Of a Jewish
money-lender, who, in turn, sold him
to the Paris Geological Garden. Sam
son reached Paris in the Spring of
1878, and for two years was the center
of attraction at the famous Geological
Garden IN that city. A tour of Paris
during those two years was not con-
sidered complete until the visitor had
paid his respects to the majestic Sam
son. Mr.. Earnest Cooke, Mr.. Coles
European agent, endeavored to pur
chase Samson shortly after the latter's
arrival in Paris, but his proposal a,
the time was disdainfully refused
Finally, after two years of bargaining
vexatious delays, and the display OF
no little diplomacy, Mr.. Cooke was
enabled to procure for his principal a
bill of sale of the coveted animal, the
consideration being $4,000, in add.
ton to which were numerous mon.
etary lotions - commonly called
"bribes" In this country-to sundry
officials. Samson was landed in New
York in April, 1880, and was imme.
diately placed in Mr.. Coles exhibi.
ton, where he has reigned as the CHIEF
star ever since. He is an Asiatic ele.
plant, and all authorities concede tina,
he is the largest specimen of thai
species that ever existed. The de.
parted Jumbo, who was an African
elephant, was but two inches taller
than Samson. There is no elephant
of to-day, either African or Asiatic
that can approach the tremendous
proportions of the latter Samson il
very sedate and tractable animal
and his general health is excellent
vet he has an ailment that gives hi.
keepers considerable trouble; anc
what do you think it is? Corns
Mr.. Cole is obliged to keep regular
out and out manicure to trim the big
beasts pedal extremities twice week
He cuts off huge chunks of corns the
size of a hens egg. Samson, yor
see, has played the swell SO long, anc
has been such a high liver, that