Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-14
ELEPHANTS AND KANGARoos.
Busy Scene at Barnum's show Win- ter Quarssrs-A Wicked Black Bear Comes to an Untinely End.

Busy Scene at Barnum's show Win-
 Ger Quarssrs-A Wicked Black Bear
 Comes to an Untinely End.
 The situation at the circus winter quarters in Bridgeport at the present time re- ssmbles the founding of min- ing settlement in the west. The sounds of tho hammer, saw and sledge can be heard there at all hours of the day, and everything is hustle and activity. The Far mer says: Two hundred men have been diligently at work in the building and yards for the past week. This small army of workmen is composed of carpenters, carriage makers, blaoksmiths, horse shoers, wood oarvers, animal handlers and magieians. The massive and gaudy chariots belonging to the show looked as if they had been struck by cyclone when they were bro ught to this city, having been jammed and defaced on the trip to and from Europe. The horses were also in wretched condition when they arrived here, having been on their feet fifteen nights and fourteen days. When they were placed tired animals dropped from exhaustion, and remained prostrate for three days before they were suhiciently recuperated to move about. During the passage across, three of the hor- ses fell from fatigue and wore trampled to death by the others before they could be re- moved. The elephants seemed to enjoy the trip across, and were in excellent condition when they arrived. sl
 The keepers at the winter qusrters were yesterday compelled to end the existence of l large black bear. The animal became | furious as it was being removed to anothsr csge and fearing that it might seriously in- jure one of the many workmen about the places before it could be eubdued the keeper picked up rife and shot it through the left eye, killing it almost instantly. The skin of | the animal was then removed and hung up | to dry. Two large storks attract consider able attention from the wOrkmen. They stand nearly four feet in height and their outstretched wings measure eight feet from | tip to tim. The monkeys are confined in room beside large stove, where the temperature is kept very high, and in another part oi the building everything possible is done to keep the temperature low enough for the polar bear The tigers are in excellent condition. l One of them escaped from it's cage on the voyage to this country, and the keepers sx- perienced great difficulty in getting it back | to it's quarters. All of the circus attaches complain of the food they received in Lon don. They say that they did not enjoy 2 sstisfsctory meal from the time they left
 Brooklyn until they returned to this country. Every man purchased supply of clothing while in Europe, however. as the cost of
 wearing apparel was much lower there than in this country.
 Twenty-Five carpenters are now engaged in constructing the framework for the ''Fall of
 Rome," and as many more will be placed at
 work during the night very soon, 90 as to
 have everything in readiness when the time
 arrives for the show to depart. A famous French artist accompanied the show to this country for the purpose of retouching the
 scenery, and he is now engaged in that work at the winter quarters. The artist cannot
 speak or understand English, and George Fl.
 Lauxon acts as interpreter. The attaches oi
 the great show received their wages on Mon
 day of this week, only small amounts having
 been advanced to them while in Europe. P,
 T. Barnum sailed for this country to-day.