The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-23
BARNUM AND WHITE ELEPHANTS
Press Agent Thomas Account of a
Great Circus War.
FrOm The New Hqren Reoister.


From the NeiC HGuen Register.
David s, Thomas was for twelve years
press agent for P. T. Barnums show. and
probably few who have been connected
with the great Snowman have had a bel ter
chance to see Mr.. Barnum in his daily life
and business career than Mr.. Thomas.
Il was press agent for Mr.. Barnum from
1872 until 1884, said Mr.. Thomas, land
during that time 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 greatest
things that Mr.. Bsrnum ever had on his
hands. 1t was in 1883, and both Barnum
and Forepaugh were billed to exhibit In
Philadelphia about the same time. Barnum
had genuine white elephant from Siam,
and Forepaugh had one be advertised as the
only white elephant In this country but we
knew it wasn't genuine one.
well, the war waxed hot and fierce.
MIR. Barnum gave US instructions 10 carry
it to the very end. Columns weren't any
thing to us then; we purchased whole pages
of the newspapers, and advertised all the
time. Mr.. Barnum after ward told me that
the newspaper bills for the three weeks
amounted to $4,000, and / know that the
bill posting and other advertising came to
as much more. Philadelphia was Fore
paugh's home, but we made it 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 b.
Our agent got them and shipped them over
Bill Durand, another Of Barnum's agents,
and myself went down from New York in
tugboat and took the
boys off on their arrival so that
Forepaugh's men couldn't get hold of them.
We disguised them and took them to Phlla"
delphia. They were about 16 or II years
old, and made up first-class as a country
boy and girl. In this disguise they purchased
their tickets and went into the tent where
the so-cslled 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 trumped up some
horse doctor who certified that he had
scientifically 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 Buch-
anan affairs that he paid $25 for. We let
this fly at the Forepaugh people.
The white elephant business fell through
after a while, however. Forepaugh took
his out west, and it was finally laughed and
guyed at 50 that be took it out of his show.
Barnum left his at his headquarters in
Bridgeport the next year and never ran it
on the road again. l think it was burned
in the big fire at Barnum's nuartars aOma
years ago. Barnum's elephant was cream
colored, but it was as white as any elephant
ever is. 1t was genuine sacred white ele-
plant from Siam. Forepaugh's was good
deal whittier, but there was no doubt but that
his was painted"