The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-09
TWO WHITE ELEPHANTS.
How Barnum Proved That His Rival
Beast Was Painted.

How Barnum Proved That His Rivals
Beast Was Painted.
David s. Thomas was for twelve years
press agent for p. T. Barnum's show, and
probably few who have been connected
with the great Snowman have had better
chance to see Barnum In his daily life and
business career than Mr.. Thomas.
II was press agent for Mr.. Barnum from
1872 until 1884" said Mr.. Thomas, land DUR
ing that time i had probably more to do
with Mr.. Barnum than any of his other
agents. for the reason that l kept right
along with the show, while the others were
usually ahead. The great white elephant
war in Philadelphia was one of the biggest
things that Mr.. Barnum ever had on his
hands. 1t was In 1883, ana both Barnum
and Forepaugh were billed to exhibit in
Philadelphia about the same time. Barnum
had q genuine white elephant from Siam,
and Forepaugh had one he advertised as the
only white elephant in the country, but we
knew it was not genuine one.
"Well, the war waxed hot and fierce. Mr..
Barnum gave US instructions TO carry it to
the very end. Columns weren't anything to
us then; we purchased whole pages of the
newspapers. and advertised all the time.
MIR. Barnum afterward told me that the
newspaper bills for the three weeks
amounted to $40, 90, and / know that the
bill-posting and other advertisements came
TO as much more. Philadelphia was Fore
paughs home, but we made 1t lively for him.
We knew that his white elephant was
painted, and we sent over to London for the
two boys who had done the job. Our agent
got them and shipped them over. Bill
Durand, another of Barnum's agents. and
my self went down from New York in tug
boat and took the boys off on their arrival
so that Forepaugh's men couldn't get hold
of them.
1--WE disguised them and took them to,
Philadelphia. They were about 16 or IL
years old, and made up first-class as a coun-
try boy and girl. In this disguise they pur-
chased their tickets and went into the tent
where the so-called white elephant was.
The first chance they got when nobody was
looking they called Tiny that was the name
of the elephant). and 1t recognized them and
struggled to reach them. We took the boys
right before notary public and they both
made affidavit to having painted Tiny with
two coats of paint over in London. The
next day we published the whole thing in
the papers, and it made great sensation.
"Then Forepaugh's men trumDed up some
horse doctor who certified that he had Seien-
tifcally examined the elephant, and that it
was genuine one and not painted. We put
detectives on his track, and we soon found
that he was not doctor, and that his only
diploma was one of those bogus Buchanan
affairs that he paid S25 for. We let this fly
at the Forepaugh people.
''The white elephant business fell through
after awhile, however. Forepaugh took his
out West, and 1t was finally laughed at and
guyed so that he took it out Of the show.
Barnum left his at his headquarters at
Bridgeport the next year, and never ran it
on the road again. / think it was burned in
tho big fire at Barnum's quarters some years
ago. Barnum's elephant was cream-colored,
but ii was as white as any elephant ever is.
1t was a genuine sacred white elephant
from Siam. Forepaugh's was good deal
whter but there was no doubt that his was
painted."-New Haven Register.