Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-01-25
ELEPHANTS AT WORK
Making Practical Use of Their
Strength and Intelligence.
New York's Tractable and Do
mestIcated Pets.

mestlcated Pets.
/ Threo young elephants which have
beon in tho Central Park monaterio
somo months werc secured by Director
Conklin for four years. Thoy aro tho
property of Cole, tho old circus pro-
prictor, and woro with Barnum's ami
mails last year in Bridgeport, whom tho
big fro destroyed so largo portion of
the collie ction. Those animals escapcd
uninjurod, though badly scared by tho
conhagration. These elephants woro
taken about twcnty years ago, whom
thoy were only few years old, and
have passed. most OF their livos in CAP
tiyity. Their ages arc about twenty
five years oach, which in the elephants
career is tho full period of youth. Tho
two males, Tom and Billy, aro tho
largest, but Jennie, tho female, is by
far tho most Intelligent and tractablo.
Tho keeper of the elephant says that
sho knows everything that is said to
hor; shc will follow him about. if nor
mittoi, like an Immense Newfoundland
dog.
The elephants average in weight
nearly 5000 pounds apiece. In tho
winter thoy arc kept in largo outer
building in tho mcnagorio, but during
tho summer they ROMAN almost all tho
timo in tho opon mir, and havo become
acclimated and ablo to endure extromo-
ly severe weather without taking cold.
The only way of lettering thcso onor-
nous animals is by fastening hoavy
chain arou1d the ankle of ono foot and
attaching tho end of tho chain to a sta.
pic dooply imboddad in tho ground.
This answers all ordinary purposes, but
by putting forth q small portion of thcir
enormous strength, they can reality
snap tho massive liaks of iron.
The trcmcndou, strength which these
animals arc capable of putting forth
cannot bo realizod until it i, sccn. Tho
keeper snys that any one of tho clc-
plants has tho strength of dozon
horses. When they exert thi, power
they suggest some enormous ongino
which has become endowed with lifo
instead Of moving mechanically by
stoam power. Whenever any heavy
weight is to be moved about tho nrssn-
al tho elephants aro employed. Tho
keeper has short hook which he uses
Ike spur, directing tho auim,l by a
touch on tho fink. A few days nro
a heavy beer wagon became fastened in
n rut in street near tho arsenal. Tho
stoutest team of Norman horses could
not budgo tho wagon, and several other
horses lent their aid in vain. Director
c0nklin, who had stopped to look on,
sent for ono of tho elephants. Tho
keeper directed tho animal to push tho
wagon from behind and when no placed
his hond against it with slight effort
tho horses started and the vohiclo roso
out of its rut as if by magic.
Last week frame building was to
be removed to anothir part of the
grounds. 1t was small two-story
structure, partly filed with grain and
implements, making weight of twelve
or fiftcon tons. With some difficulty
tho workmen raised tho hugo mass on
rollers. The elephant Jonpio was then
brought up to push. She would plac,
her great hcnd against tho structure
and brace herself; thoa tho build
ing would strain and creak and move
on as rapidly as tho rollers could be
placed in position. jennie and her
keeper would follow it up and she
would bend her head to give the
building another push whom tho
foreman shouted ''R aiy." The
crowd which collected to watch tho
spectacle cheorcd th"ir admiration, and
Jennie would rop!y with trumpet Like
snort of pleasure at their appreciation.
"Of course sho knows what is said to
her, remarked tho keeper. elephants
don't forget very soon. They will al
ways remember their fri hit at Barnum's
4 INV" CouSht tncm nltor WnrQ
they shook all over and were as nervou,
as children. And you my not think it
but they know tho meaning of tho word
fire. Isn't that SOP he appealed to DR..
Conklio, who nodded his hoad in
affirmation.
Inst summer wo camo near having
somo trouble. Men wcro blasting out
trenches in tho Transverse Road, north
OF tho Arsenal to put ia water pines
When tho blast was ready one of the m
stood up waving his red flag and shout
ing Fire! Fircl' Tho elephants wero
fastened Outside OF their buildings, a. d
at tho frat shout, they raised their
heads in alarm, and at the second every
one OF them snapped their chains as if
thoy Ind been thread, and the way