The sun., 1893-03-02
a LIv,No WALL.
How tho Ancient. amp, y,d Elephgnt


How tho Ancieat. Aiin2 y,d Elephant
ia h IttIe.
Alexander was one OF the first fs
nous Kings OF history TO Tell OF fight
ing against an elephant host, says
writer in ST. N cho!as. His invading
army had reached the River Hydas2ea
and rs the warriors looked across they
beheld tho opposing army u King
PosnA who had not only chariots and
an enormous army, tut "the hugt
creatures called elephants. The
great animals which stood on the
further river bank, sheieking anG
trumpeting. filled the soldiers of Alex.
ander with terror and dismay.
The two armies watched each other
for several days; then Alexander cue.
ceeded in crossing the river, and the
two forces drew up in line of battle.
The Indian king placed his elephants
in the front rank, 100 feet apart
thinking in this way so to frighter
the horses OF the foe that The entire
army would be put to flight. fetwoen
the elephants were foot-soldiers. and
at the ends of the line were large ese.
plants bearing strong towers filed
with armed men. King Porus himself
was born upon an elephant of unusual
height probably us large as the IA
nous Jumbo"
When King Alexander, who WIS a
very brave and valiant man, saw the
orderly foe. he said: '.At last | have
met with danger worthy OF the great
ress o. my soul" Evidently he had
due respect for the elephant soldi@s
tnat opposed him.
Alexander moved his forces to the
attack. and poured In shower OF ar,
rows and spears Tho elephants stood
|. like q store wall. tramping the foot
soldiers beneath their heavy feet seiz-
ing them in their trunks ana deliver
ing them to the soldiers upon their
backs or tossing them high in the air.
TEe elephants were evidently the
main hops of King Porua and per-
col ing tbs. Alexander directed men
2rmed with soythcs and knives to at
tack tGem,
Thee warriors ck0p-ed at the ele
plants feet ana tender trunks until il
terror the great C eaturss turned aud
began a stamp, de shat was disastrous
TO the foot soldiers Of their own side
Tor they t"ampied upon them and In
| heir own light no ed them down
| Ike grain. Alexander followed close
| after the elephants upon his wouade
charger and finally the battle was
| lost 10 PoruS be aus< Of tie elephants g
themselves. King Iorus. being
wounded during the hurried retreat.
! desired 10 aljght. The driver ordered
| his elephant to kncel whereupcn all
| the elephants. having been accustomed
to obey iu concert did the same and
| alexander fell upon than AID gained
complete victory. .,
1t is said that elephants which sur
| Vived this famous battle wero raperetl
! for years by tie Indians and honore..
much as a"e the yeterans OF our wars
| In an aucent book, The ife of Apol-
l0n.us Of 1yana'' he is SAID to have
seen in q town of India an e:ephaa;
J VIII ch the people he'd in the greateet
respect as having been Owned by King
orus 1t was periumed with swee!
cs .elces and decl5ed with gar!ands.
while u?oa it9 trs.,s were rings ol
gold inscr. bed with these words:
Alexander. son OF Jupiter. ded catps
A az 10 the Sun" Tue elephant A AK,
accorIin.; to Apo;!Cn:us, was the old
war elephant OF rrus in hls bitt'
tn Alexander aud md survived an
lived in hvuorlote :d,cness f.r 3oC
| years.
While Ale. ander DO Gated tie Gle
phant corps OF ror;ls lls saw they
were good fighters AMI created tn
ott'ce of Fleptaat2r;h h cr Chief oI
| ELEPHANTS and a'terw2rd VISITING
mona@chs found him surrounded b,
tho iar=7St elephants mGgni caat. y
| harneGsel.