Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-10-09
FONDLED HERCULES.
THE GIFTED ELEPHANT TRAINER RE.
LATE5 Ills EXPERIENCE.


Now He Sticks to Rhinoceroses,
"Did you ever fondlc an elephant in
q geological garden?" asked the man
with the lop shoulder as he looked
around on the group which had been
smoking and talking
No one ever had, and he was invited
to give his experience.
Up to about ten years ago, " he said
as he settled down, "I had an idea that
was born for an animal trainer, with
elephants as my particular speciality.
never Went " New York, Philadelphia
or Cincinnati without going to tho ZOO
and fondling tho elephants. Many and
many Il time have astonished the keep
ers and raised a great row by walking
right up to an elephant and shaking
hands with him, as it were. And they
really took to me. When that big, bad
elephant Iippo Said Of tho New York
ZOO was killing his keepers and smash
ing up t..Hgs, ! entered his don and
pulled his caIs and pattcd his trunk and
got up such friendship between us
that he couldn' bear to let me go.'
"WeD, what next?' asked the man
with the cats eye ring on his little fin
ger
II got stuck Oh myself as a matter of
course. wanted to be an elephant
trainer and do with the big beasts
what no other trainer had ever dared
try, but somehow could never strike a
job. That didn't prevent me from see-
ing the elephants at every opportunity,
however, and keeping in touch with
them. One day got around to Phila-
delphla and was told that an elephant
called Hercules had been in bad humor
for week or two They had him chain
ed to tho floor and his keeper daren't go
within ton feet Of him, while o man
stood in front Of the cage and warned
the public to keep at safe distance. I'd
seen the beast dozen times before, and
on two occasions he had lifted me up on
his back with his trunk. l am sure he
knew mo on this occasion, but he gave
me no greeting"
"But you were determined to fondle
him just the same?" queried the cat
eye man in vinegary voice.
"Of course" replied the narrator.
1T was an occasion had been longing
for years. l wanted to show profess
sional trainer what I could do in the
way Of pacifying and humbling an ugly
elephant, but for half an hour they
watched me so closely that I had no
show to get at old Hercules The time
came, however, and slipped into his
cage and walked right up to him and
began to speak loving words and caress
his trunk. Gentlemen, excuse these two
tears-the first 1 have shed for years
but my emotions always overcome me
at this stage of the game "
what are you crying about?" stern
ly demanded the baldheaded man in tic
big rocking chair
At the recollection of what occurred
then and there. | hadn't fondled that
miserable critter over three fondlcs and
hadn't time to feel conceited over my
smartncss when he picked me up and
waved Inc aloft and threw me slam bang
against the planks Of his cage But for
the quickness of some of tho ZOO folks
in coming to my rescue I'd have been
dead man in another minute. They
handled me out O that with hooks, and
the beast was so mad at my escape that
he broke one Of his tusks Off in banging
around. People mile away could hear
him scream i'll his rage. Everybody said
it was a wonder how escaped with my
life. My left leg and left arm We're
broken, my spine injured, kneecap
loosened, and l didn't get over splitting
blood for year. I was in hospital in
Philadelphia for 207 days before l could
walk out. Gentlemen, here are two
more tears May depend on your gen
erosity to excuse them as before?''
"What you snivcling about now?"
shouted the baldheaded man as he turn
ed on him.
"Morc recollections, sir. l was no
sooner able to be out than l was arrest
ed, tried and convicted Oh the charge Of
fondlilg all elephant, and the Judge
socked me ?25 and costs. Tho whole
affair cost me $42S, saying nothing Of
my sutlcrings and lost time'
"And after that you left the elephant
training business alone?"
eyes, after that" replied the lop
shouldcrcd man III broken tones, II let
up on elephants and gave my whole at
tentiOu to rhinuccroses Excuse my
seeming conccit, gentlcnlcn, but l am
the only man i'll the world who can
make rhinoceros stand on his head
and spin about like Il top He also plays
Home, Sweet Home on the accordion
at my bidding and will sit cross legged
with Il pair Of spectaclos on and pretend
to read the good book which our moth
erS taught us to respect"
There was silence for long minute
after he had finished. Then every man
rose up and called him lop sh )uldcred
liar and Il horse thief and left him to
enjoy his OWL miserable society. De
troit FREQ Press.
SaltiCst Of seas.
Some idea of the saltncSs Of the Wa
tcrs Of the Dead sea may be gained |
", 1,n1