The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-14
LARGER THAN JUMBO.
The King Of India's Nerds That Barnumb


Man Lost.
An interesting character sat chatting
in the reading room of Fulton street
hotel one day recently. He looked
about fifty years old and his bronzed
face showed the marks of exposure to
the elements in many chimes.
Toa small group of friends, who know
him as j. b Gaylord, for twenty-five
years catcher of the largest species of
wild animals for circuses. and for many
years Rarnum's friend and foreign
agent he was telling of thrilling ex-
perience while attempting to capture
what he believes was the largest ele-
plant n the world.
II was in Hong Kong, ready to leave
for America with a cargo of lions.
tigers and elephants" said he, when
received a dispatch from Mr.. Barnum
informing me that Jumbo was dead and
directing me to go to India at once and
secure, regardless of cost or trouble.
the largest elephant to be found. Imet
my partner, a native, in Calcutta, and
we started away.
1--WE had received word Of the discov-
cry of the largest elephant ever seen in
southern India He was said to bs
fifteen feet high, to have lorded it over
a large herd for many years and to be
the most ferocious elephant ever en-
countered by the natives / made up
my mind to have that elephant, no mat
ter what the risk or cost. But, as it
turned out, l came near losing my life
fr,t f.a tor % Inn ta- hxa
name ! gave him in fancy.
''We reached the elephant country
well provided with natives. decoy ele-
plants and ali necessary paraphernalia.
We selected spot near the stream to
which Jupiter and his herd went to
drink, and the natives began building
the trap in which we hoped to catch
the king elephant. When the walls of
the corral had been completed, we cut
a path gradually widening from the
mouth Of the corral until it was one
hundred feet in width a quarter of a
mile away. Its sides were built up of
trees and heavy underbrush in nat
urcl manner. At the entrance to the
corral mammoth gate was swung
nigh in the trees, ready to drop the
moment the signal was given.
Then we had to find our elephant.
We started a number of herds, and
finally located Jupiter, with twenty
others of the finest and largest ele-
plants l ever SET eyes on.
snow the real fun began 1t took
two days of the most skillful work to
get the herd anywhere near our corral
Our four decoy elephants did their
work splendidly, though. 1t was most
interesting to watch them coax the
rub up against them and trumpet and
caper about. all the while leading the
unsuspecting elephants nearer to the
lane that led into the corral
Near the entrance one hundred ma
tives were stationed in the trees. and
when the elephants entered they be-
gan tremendous shouting and throw
ing of elephant spears. The herd
dashed right straight ahead, and were
quickly in the corral The big gate
that closed the only aperture then was
let down.
Here began the artistic work. Tho
tame elephants were mounted by pro-
fessional elephant tanners, who, after
the wild herd had quieted somewhat,
started to single out the leader, an ex-
ceedingly difficult task. for on the APP
proach of the mounted elephants the
big fellow would below with rage. and
endeavor to run the traitors down.
Finally all of the tanned elephants got
Jupiter in a corner. The four native
tanners each lassoed leg of the big
beast, and their mounts started in diff
ferent directions.
Jupiter suddenly found himself in
q surprisingly unpleasant predicament-
He could neither go ahead nor retreat,
and the four elephants pulled lit
tie harder when he made an ex-
ira plunge. His trumpeting served to
brighten the rest of the herd and
they made wild efforts to break
through the corral. Unfortunately
they found a weak spot. but before the
entire herd could get through the ma
tives had killed several and captured
some baby elephants. Then the entire
force of natives aided in getting the
shackles on the big fellow. This was
accomplished in few hours, though
generally it takes several days, but the
tame elephants aided very materially.
The heavy chains once on Jupiter,
we felt as though we had indeed Sc
cured the largest elephant in the
world. While he was not fifteen feet
high. we could readily see that he
Of OF
half feet.
1--WE had to starve him three days be-
fore we could do anything with him at
all. Then we placed one of the trained
elephants on either side, released him
from the trees to which we had tied
him, and moved him bout the corral
He made terrific plunges-
''We got Jupiter to Bombay, but
there our troubles began afresh- He
starving him. and then fed him for
time, but that only made matters
worse
Il ca bled Mr.. Barnum that he could
announce that had captured Jupiter,
an elephant larger than was Jumbo.
But while waiting for a steamer that
would take Jupiter TO America /
watched with uneasiness his increasing
ferocity. Extra shackles were put on
him
''One day entered the paddock mex.
10 his and unthinkingly got within
range OF his trunk. / was seized and
hurled aloft Ny body struck the
board ceiling. knocking me senseless-
When they took me from the floor
had broken arm and leg, three broken
ribs and was bruised from head TO foot.