The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-04


forbidden 70 bring an elephant into the
At the dock we had crane. such as is
used tor hcisting heavy goods, and its
strong hooks being lowered, and caught
into the iron rings on the elephants waist
Dand, the poor old fellow. trumpeting with
terror and dismay. was swung ike a mon
strous bale OF goods into the big pen on
deck where he was 70 spend the next six
months at sea
He stayed there very comfortat ly
through the. long voyage, petted BY all
on BOARD he and I became great friends
and every morning. when I went 10 his
pen 10 talk 10 him, carried in my pock-
cts some pieces Of ship biscuit, which he
learned 10 ind and take out with his
trunk
his usual food was either rice or gram
"a KIND OF dried peas, and We had a large
quantity on board for his use. After cook
ing II, the mahOut would make a sort of
mems nest OF hay, hll It with the cooked
grain, and lay II as far inside the ele-
Pnants mouth as his hand could reach.
Eight or Ten of these bird s-nest pud-
dlngs' were needed for one meal: and
WREN Colly wanted a glass of water. he
would draw up into his trunk a whole
painful at one draught, and then, turning
II down his throat.
The mahOut had a large shovel to use
Tor cleaning out the pen, and one dav when
ne mad left it standing at one side, COlly
hole in the handle and began TO scratch
himself with the blade all over his sides
and wherever he could reach. After that
ne would never let the mahout have the
shovel, but kept it for his own back
scratcher."
At last our long voyage was over and
we arrived safely at Boston. Colly was
as anxious as every one else TO go ashore.
ana a wide, heavy gangway or landing
stage was placed from the ship TO the
pier for him TO walk ashore; but he had
only taken one step when he felt the
planking sag under his weight. He drew
back, and the mahout, with all his cries
and urging-even jabbing him with
sharp goad-cOuld not make him venture
further than to try il with one fore foot.
1 told the man to keep quiet and wait,
and let him take his own way, for l was
sure he would be as glad to be on land
as we would be to have him get there.
Before long he began to feel his way
again, cautiously pressing - the gang
down on all four knees, he hitched him
self along in that position all the way
across to the pier. 1t seemed wonderful
that he should know that by spreading
the weight of his body over a large sur
face he could get over more safely than
by bearing on his feet.
He was then delivered to his new owner,
who kept him for a short time in an
two or three times and took friends to see
my big pet, whom l was very sorry to
lose sight Of when he was soon after
removed to parts unknown.
Six years later 1 went to a circus in Ha-
vana. Walking through a side passage
of the rambling old building 1 came our
in a place where l saw an elephant be-
yond. AS / looked at him I seemed to
see a likeness to my old pet Of six years
before, and called out to him, "Colly!'
Immediately he raised his head and
looked toward me, moving his great ears
forward in excitement As l drew nearer
n a Kaanpr annpaTP0-an 4 American
and called out to me to keep away. Don't
go near that elephant" he said. Hes
very cross to-day, and l dare not go near
him myself"
But without realizing my danger, had
already come within the huge creatures
reach, and before 1 could withdraw he put
his trunk around my waist, and drawing
me gently up TO him between mis- tusks
held me pressed against his forehead as
tenderly as a human mother would mold
her child. 1 patted him and talked 20
him, but 1 was glad enough when he
unwound his trunk from my body and let
me go.
Then he began feeling about with his
trunk for my sea jacket pockets, where
he used to find ship biscuit at sea, and
called to an old black woman who sat near
by with cakes for sale and bought out her
whole stock to feed the good old friend
who had remembered me so many years
The keeper watched all this scene in
great excitement, and finally came for
ward, begging me to tell him what 1t
meant. For" said he, 81 would not have
given a farthing for your life when 1 saw
you in the elephants grasp"
30" said /, "he is an older friend of
mine than he is of yours" and then 1 told
him the story of my old acquaintance with
Colly and of our long voyage together six
years before
When l turned to leave the place the
dear old fellow stretched his head for
ward to see me as long as he could, SEEM
ing to wish l would stay with him, but
after one look backward at the noble
him again