New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-11
ELEPHANTS 1T WORK.
MAKING USE OF THEIR STRENGTH AND INTEL
LIGENCE IN CENTRAL PARK


For fortnight the employees about the Arsenal IN
Central Park have been occupied with the preparation
the winter quarters OF the animals in the The
tank in the lion house has been enlarged Will
afford for the hippopoami. who begin their
outdoor bath unpleasant OF keen. frosty morning
The prairie dogs getting ready the winter
the black bears becoming sluggish the Polar
bears correspondingly active when sharp northwest
wind blows and the sky and the air winuy. The
most active animals in the these preparations
have been the elephants Three young elephants which
have been in the menaGere during the were
secured by Director Conkln for four years They
the property Of Cole the old circus proprietor
with Barnums animals last year in Bridgeport when the
big fire destroyed large portion OF the collection
These animals escaped uninured badly scared
by the conagration These elephants taken about
twenty years ago, when they only few old
and have passed most Of their lives captivity. Their
ages are about twenty-five years each. which in the
elephants career is the full period OF youth The
males Tom and Billy. the largest Jennie. the
female is by far the intelligent and
The keeper Of the elephants says every
thing that is said to her. she will follow him about
If permitted. like immense Newfoundland dog. The
elephants in weight nearly 600 pounds apiece
and their sides have become round and fat during
summer, from eating great quantities of Central
Park grass. In the winter these are kept
large outer building in the menagcrie. but during the
summer they remain almost all the time open
and have become acclimated and able extremely
severe weather without taking cold The only way Of
lettering these animals is by fastening heavy
chain around the ankle OF foot and attaching the
end OF the chain to staple deeply imbedded in
ground. This answers all ordinary purposes but by
putting forth small portion OF their strength
they readily snap the massive links OF iron
The tremendous strength which these animals
capable OF putting forth cannot be realized until seen
The keeper says that any one Of the elephants has the
strength OF dozen horses When they exert this power
they suggest some enormous engine which has become
endowed with life instead OF moving mechanically by
steam power Whenever any heavy weight Is to be
moved about the Arsenal the elephants employed The
keeper has short hook which like spur
ing the animal by touch the trunk. few days ago
heavy beer wagon became fastened in in a
the Arsenal The Norman horses could
bulge the wagon. and horses lent their
aid in vain Director Conklln who had stopped
on sent for Of the elephants The keeper directed
the animal to push the wagon from behind and when he
placed his head against It with slight the horses
started and the vehicle OF its II by magic
Last week frame building to be removed
other part Of the grounds 1t was small two-story
structure partly filed with grain and implements making
weight Of twelve fifteen With difficulty
the workmen raised the huge rollers The
plant Jennie was then brought up push. She would
place her great head against the and her
self then the building would creak and
on as rapidly as the rollers could be placed
In position Jennie and her keeper would fol.
low 1t up and she would bend her head give
the building another push when the foreman shouted
- Really" The crowd which collected watch the
spectacle checred their admiration would reply
with tumDetke pleasure their appreciation.
or course she knows what Is said her, remarked the
keeper. Elephants don't forget very soon They Will
always remember their fright Barium's When 1
caught them afterward they shook all ami
nervous as children And you may think IT, but
they know the meaning Of the word fire Isn't that so p
he appealed 10 Dr. Conklin. who nodded his head In
Affirmation.
Last summer near having some trouble.
Men were blasting out Road,
north oil the Arsenal, to put in pipes. When the
blast was ready Of them stood up waving his red
nag ana shouting Fire Fire? The elephants
fastened OUTSIDE OF their buildings the shout,
they raised their heads in alarm second every
one OF them snapped their chains they hai been
thread and the way they went jumping In the opposite
drecuoh as the blast was red startled the people who
got out OF their way as quickly as possible. / found
them down In the very much frightened. After
that the man was told shout IRE any more where
the elephants could hear him.