Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-24


Bailey had in his London show five
performing elephants, which were val
ued at $4,000.
Of all animals who are not trained
TO perform astonishing tricks, the most
valuable are giraffes They are quoted
at $4,000 each, and they are pretty
steady at that figure. The wild beasts
of the jungle, as the show bills call
them, because of the difficulty in cap
turing them and of raising them in
cold climates, are the most expensive.
hippopotamus is worth $4,000 A
rhlnccerouS with a single horn costs
$4,000. Another horn adds just s .OO0
to his value. Lions range from $500
TO $1,000. A lionesS costs $1,000, and
tigers are quoted at $1,000 Grizzly
bears are becoming scarce, and are
hard to keep in captivity. A really
line specimen is worth $1,000. and
they range from that down to $500.
/ Polar bears come to $500 Other bears
range from $50 to $1,000. A camel
with one hump is worth $3.50. and two
/ humps bring the market value I'D to
! S4O0. OStricheS are valued at $500
/ apiece.
Gnus, which don't attract much at
/ tenton. are found in every first class
! menagerie, and cost SEQ. The Amcri-
can buffalo is worth $500, just 500
more than his Indian brother. The
Rocky mountain goat is quoted rather
/ high, $500, while pantherS and leop-
ards are plenty at $3.50 each, and
hyenas and pumas go for S175. Ante
lopeS range all the way from SITS to
$500 and deer from $50 to 500, while
a moose brings $500, the same price as
| a nyfghaus.
An anteater is worth S4OO harte-
beests ia kind of antelope, wart hogs
and sloths, $3.50; cheetahs, alpacas
and guanacos $500; tapirs, S4OO; sea
lions bring from $500 to 800. while
seals are worth but $50. Zebus are
worth $3.50; llamas. 5000: emus. S175,
and mountain lions, $1O0 Armadillos
are to be had for $50 and porcupines
for half that amount. Wolves come a
little higher. They average $50. Kan
garOOS have increased in value of late
years. They are now quoted at $3.50.
The more valuable monkeys range
from $40 to $50.
The manner in which the wild ami
mails are captured is interesting.
Africa is the most productive field.
A plumber of experienced men are
sent into the heart of the country,
either by a dealer or a Snowman.
They take with them supplies, arms,
a large sum of money, silver dollars in
boxes to pay the native hunters and
200 or 300 goats. When they reach a
suitable spot in the interior they make
camp, build huts, till the ground and
prepare to stay for year or more.
They hunt Systematically. One day
parties go out for hippOpotami They
kill the old ones and take the young
ones TO camp. This plan is followed
with regard to all the wild animals,
only the young are taken. These are
fec upon the milk of the goats
When sufficient number of animals
is secured to warrant a return, the
young beasts are swung across the
backs of mules to be carried to the
nearest seaport The goats are, Of
course, driven along. and progress is
necessarily slow. Sometimes these
expeditions are failures because of the
wars between the natives At other
times the party will return with large
quantities of ivory and other va1ua-
bles, which more than pay the entire
expenses.
After all, the most valuable ami
mails in a show are horses. Without
them business could not be conducted.
They must be not only fine appearing
animals, but good workers. The Bar
mum Il Bailey show has 392 horses.
From $3.50 to $500 was paid for each
of them, so that they represent an
investment Of S150,OOO. This does not
include the horses in the performing
rings. A good ring horse may cost
originally 5000 to $500, but after he
is properly broken and trained for
circus purposes he is worth $4,000