Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-20
STUFFlNG AN ELEPHANT.
How It Was Shot I'm India and Mounted With
Wood and iron.

ss0NCE UPON A TIME ACCEPTED A
" contract to supply stuffed elephant, s.
said skilled taxidermist to a writer for The
STAR. II had to go to India to get it. Having
reached there obtained from the governor OF
the Madras presidency special permit author
izing me to kill the animal / wanted. Otherwise
l should have been in danger from the law.
Having provided myself with everything
requisite for preparing and preserving the skin
when 1 should obtain it, 1 hired several natives
and pitched my camp in the Annually Hills,
choosing spot frequented by herds Of wild
elephants. We struck the fresh trail OF large
herd, which we followed up. The course taken
led US through forests, across great swamps of
tall grass and finally along a steep mountain
side covered with thick and thorny underbrnsh.
Progress would have been exceedingly difficult
but for the narrow lanes left clear by the
passage of the great beasts
THE HERD.
''The herd being overtaken it was found to
contain forty elephants Of all sizes. 1t was
deemed advisable to single out one that was by
itself. The best opportunity was afforded by q
very large tusker, which was discovered feeding
quietly on a hillside with three or four females
and young males, a short distance from the
main herd. Stealing up to within eight PAGES
of him fired a shot at his head which entered
about six inches above the left eve, passed
through the brain and laid the noble animal
dead in his tracks without . struggle or q
sound.
ADIFFIcULT TASK.
Eve proceeded at once to remove the skin,
taking it off in three parts. SO that it might be
easier to carry. Along the back and head the
hide was about an inch in thickness There
being only six Of us, we were obliged to re-
move the enormous entrails and vital ORGANS
and cht off several hundred pounds of flesh
from the carcass before We could turn it over,
and even then it required nearly three hours
hard work with levers and props to accomplish
that part of the task.
Having removed the skin, which was accom-
plished in two days, we applied arsenical soap
to the inside, upon which we sprinkled salt
plentifully and rubbed it in with fat stone.
Then:the outside was similarly treated. Finally
we pared away the hide on the inside, remov-
ing from it not less than 700 pounds Of fiber.
Twenty days after the death OF the elephant
the skin was dry and ready for shipment. 1t
was packed in single case and weighed when
boxed only 240 pounds. In this shape it reached
Rochester. N. Y, where l set to work to mount
it. For this purpose first constructed man
nikin of the proper size and shape from draw
ings and measurements Of the animal.
AN IMITATION ELEPHANT.
"Four square bars of wrought iron, each u
feet in length, were heated and bent into shape
for legs, and all we're firmly bolted to a 4-inch
beam 16 feet long, which was to serve as q back
bone for the stuffed beast On each side of the
center beam were nailed boards cut in semicir-
cular shape to the same general outline as the
ribs of the skeleton when In position. These
false ribs were set the entire length OF the
body, and to them we're nailed laths SO as to
sheathe the whole framework. A wooden pei
were constructed and nailed in position.
with the real SIX ull before us as q model we
made another Of wood, exactly the same size
and shape as the original into which the tusks
were fitted. After boiling it firmly in place
the framework of the mannikin was complete.
The entire framework was then carefully COW
cred with straw, fastened to it In small bundles.
By adding successive layers Of straw the various
muscles and promiuences were reproduced
with accuracy. The next step was to place the
skin, thoroughly poisoned with arsenic, to keep
off the bugs, over the model sewing it together.
The feet and legs were stuffed out to the proper
shape and size, and then remained the most
difficult part Of the whole job-nameiy, the
head.
''The trunk was made with straw wound
upon an iron rod and bound into shape, and
then the whole head was covered with clay.
By means Of this plastic and yet adhesive
material we were enabled to make all the hol-
lows and elevations on the head, as well as the
deep wrinkles Of the trunk. Then the animal
was allowed to stand for three months, after
which it was shipped on q fat car to the
Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cam
bridge, Mass. where it now is. It il nine feet
ave inches in height above its pedestal"