The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-06-13
A CUNNING ELEPHANT.
Who Stole Fruit at Night and Locked Him.
self in the Stable in the Morning.

self in the Stable in the Morning.
The English Commissioner at Shwey-
ghua, IN Burmah, recently had q young
elephant given him by native gentle
man. The youngster was kept in stable
in the garden and was locked IN at night
by door having sliding wooden bar
running in iron staples. Now, adjoining
the stables was the Commissioners s
garden, in which he took great pride.
The garden, full of fruit, was well laid
out, and had the walks paved with brick.
Shortly after the young elephants
arrival the garden was found to be system
aticaily plundered of its fruit. No traces
were left by the thief, nor were there
any footprints to indicate how an entrance
could have been effected. The Com
missioner issued orders for watchmen to
surround the place outside at intervals
and lie in wait for the thief, and IN case
Of discovery permission was given them
to shoot the robbers, as warning to
Other evl-minded persons, On the
morning after this order was issued, the
watchman reported that no one had
passed their Gordon.
But the head gardener told different
story. The damage done had exceeded
that of the night previous, muchss fruit
having been broken off and left lying on
the ground. The Commissioner was now
thoroughly exasperated and admitted
native watchmen into his cherished
garden. They received strict inIunctions
to take the offenders alive and to awaken
him at once and report who the daring
thieves were. At a late hour in the night
the Commissioner vas awaken by his
Madrassee butler, who informed him
with much gravity that the thief was dis
covered, but that they had not captured
him, desiring the Bhayah himself to come
and see him. The Commissioner quickly
donned his garments and went out to the
garden.
At the gate he met q watchman, who
asked him to follow him as noiselessly
as he could. They proceeded down one
of the paths until the watchman stopped
and whispered, '.Look thaken." There
was master elphsnt regaing himself OF
the Commissioners choice fruit, selecting
the best and throwing down any he did
not fancy. The Commissioner decided
to wait and follow the youngster when
he had satiateI himself and see how
he had managed to break out of his
stable. After while the elephant
thought it time to retire and returned
towards his stable.
The young elephant entered the stable
and pulled the door to with his trunk;
then the side OF the roof was seen to be
lifted up and the elephants head appear,
ed just above the door. Out came the
trunk and reached down to the heavy
bar, caught hold OF it and pushed it into
its place through the iron staples; then
the roof was lowered and all was in good
order. On examination of the interior
of the stable in the morning it was found
that the animal had united the bamboo
strips with which the rafters were fast
ened to the plates in the simple Burmese
architectural style. The roof was thus
easily lifted allowing the animal to project
his trunk and reach the outer bar. His
ssboyish" mouth had watered for taste
of stolen fruit, so sweet to youth. Then
he thought of lifting the rafters, untyine
the fastenings and so reaching the bar he
had noticed was on the outside of the
door.