Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-10
LOCKHART'S BABES
An intelligent Group of EIe-
plants.
HOW THEY WERE TRAINED.

HOW THEY WERE TRAINED
Mister OF the Monster Beasts Talks Enter.
tai"ioE'y of Their Capture and of the
Means Employed In TcachipS Them to
Perform.
What is conceded to be the most
intelligent group of elephants in the
world is possessed by Sam Lock-
hart whose performances are attract
ing such attention at the Watch
Tower now. Mr.. LOckhart is a great
admirer Of the elephant and is prob.
ably more conversant with its
nature than any person who follows
the vocation of trainer of the biz
beast today.
Mr.. Lockhart says the people have
a wrong impression concerning the
Intelligence of the elephant, which
in his opinion stands higher in this
respect than any other member of
the animal kingdom. Though the
elephant be big, clumsy and ignor-
ant appearing beast. he contends
that it is easier handled and taught
than smaller animals if the prop. n
methods are employed in SO doing.
lie SAYS it is not necessary to pound
and prod this animal-which nearly
all trainers do-to make it do ones
bidding. Far from it. The secret
Of MIR. Lockhart's success in hand
ling the elephant has been in study
ing its character and disposition and
then treating it accordingly.
The distinguished trainer, who is
making his first American tour, was
accosted by a newspaper man while
preparing his big pets for their per-
Torrance at the Tower last evening.
ITS pretty hard matter to tell
how taught them all their acts,,'
answered Mr.. Lockhart, who is an
Englishman by birth. pleasantly.
But | tell you did not follow the
course Of the average trainer. l
have higher estimate of the ele-
plants intelligence and sensitive
ness than others. Sincere in nv
conviction that this animal is an
apt STUDENT much more SO than
any other ANIMAL went at them in
sioW anu patleDt manner.
Secret OF His Success.
That has been the secret of my
success as a trainer. l have never
used prod on one of them yet, and
don't believe it will ever be neces-
sary. They respect my wishes as
faithfully as human servants. My
fist experience with elephants was
abou: sixteen years ago, when /
bought two-I christened them Jocko
and Jennie-from Burma, India, to
Paris. These taught number Of
acts. which were soon copied bv
man-who am sorry to say was
my own brother. Determined TO
have something exclusive / sent to
Burma for four more-Romeo, Ne
lie. Harry and Charles. Romeo and
Nellie were captured fresh from the
Jungle and when they were delivered
To me were ignorant of the first rudi-
ments OF civilization. / opened the
cage and let them out. Nellie took
to me Immediately, but Romeo
showed fight. But he was soon con-
quercd and gradually became civ
iiiZed. The latter four | have had
about seven years. After spending
about eighteen months in training
them presented Jocko to the Zooloc |
zeal garden at Client, Belgium. Then
| started out with the five, which |
have gradually grown TO the most
intelligent beasts have yet CHANGED
to come across. In training my ele-
plants l was in no hurry, and would |
take one and study its character first |
as | should human being. In this |
way l found it a simple and easy |
matter 10 control them. NV e'e-
plants understand whatever l tell |
them and do as they are told. 1t is
seldom they misunderstood me. 1t
makes no difference what they do / |
do not abuse them. In fact it is
unusual for me to slap
one OF them in the face. This NAV
seem strange, but it is nevertheless |
fact. OF course nearly every other
trainer carries prod when he is hav-
ing an elephant perform. If the
beast makes a mistake the prod is |
used. There is where other trainers
and differ. And anyone who
knows how q child should be treated
and taught will readily understand
Why l should be the more sue
cessful.
what They wan Do,
For Mr.. Lockhart the elephants
will do anything mostly but talk
md they would do this il they could
But they make q stab at it in the
nature of cry. The ages of the ii Ve
elephants range between 9 and l6
years. and the group is valued at
F75. 900. Mr.. Lockhart saws a baby
elephant costs about 500. Mr..
Lockhart says that one of his eJe-
plants. Charlie. is growing like a
weed and he believes he will yet pass
Jumbo. who has long since passed in
MS checks, in size.
Mr.. Lockhart came to America las,
September for the first time. having