Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-05-20
FONDLED HERCULES.
THE GIFTED ELEPHANT TRAINER RE-
LATES HIS EXPERIENCE.

Had an Idea He Was Born For the Busi
ness of Animal Training, and Fol
Awhile Everything Ran Smoothly, bu,
Now He Sticks to Rhinoceroses.
"Did you ever fondle an elephant il
a geological garden?" asked the mar
with the lop shoulder as he looked
around on the group which had beer
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, 81 had an idea that
l was born for an animal trainer, with
elephants as my particular speciality.
never went to New York, Philadelphia
or Cincinnati without going to the zoo
and fondling the elephants. Many and
many a time I have astonished the keep
ers and raised 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, Tippo Said, of the New York
ZOO was killing his keepers and smash
ing up things, entered his den and
pulled his ears and patted his trunk and
got up such a friendship between us
that he couldn't bear to let me go'
"Well, what next?" asked the man
with the cats eye ring on his little fin
ger.
81 got stuck on myself as 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
job. That didn't prevent me from see
ing the elephants at every opportunity,
however, and keeping in touch with
them. One day I got around to Phila-
delphia and was told that an elephant
called Hercules had been in bad humor
for week or two. They had him chain
ed to the floor and his keeper daren't go
within ten feet of him, while 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. am sure he
knew me on this occasion, but he gave
me no greeting"
"But you were determined to fondle
him just the same?' queried the cats
eye man in a yinegary voice.
'Of course replied the narrator.
''It was an occasion had been longing
for years. wanted to show profess
sional trainer what could do in the
way of pacifying and humbling an ugly
elephant, but for half an hour they
watched me so closely that 1 had no
show to get at old Hercules. The time
came, however, and I 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 l have shed for years
but my emotions always overcome me
at this stage Of the game.
"What are you crying about?" stern
big rocking chair
SAT the recollection Of what occurred
then and there l hadn't fondled that
miserable critter over three fondles and
hadn't time to feel conceited over my
smartness when he picked me up and
waved me aloft and threw me slam bang
against tine planks of his cage But for |
the quickness of some Of the ZOO folks |
in coming to my rescue I'd have been a |
dead man i'll 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 trlslls off in banging |
around. People mile away could hear
it was wonder how 1 escaped with my
life. My left leg and left arm were
broken, my spine injured, kneecap
loosened, and I didn't get over splitting
blood for year. was in hospital in
Philadelphia for 207 days before could
walk out. Gentlemen, here are two
more tears. May depend on your gem
erosity to excuse them as before?"
what you sniveling about now?"
shouted the baldheaded man as he turn
ed on him.
''More recollections, sir. l was mo
sooner able to be out than was arrest
ed, tried and convicted on the charge Of
fondling an elephant, and the judge
socked me $25 and COSTS The whole
affair cost me $42S, saying nothing Of
my sJlfferings and lost time. :"
''And after that you left the elephant
training business aone?"
eyes, after that" replied the lop
shouldered man in broken tones, 81 let
up on elephants and gave my whole at
tention to rhinoceroses. Excuse my
seeming conceit, gentlemen, but am
the only man in the world who can
make rhinoceros stand on his head
and spin about like a top. He also plays
Home, Sweet Home On the accordion
at my bidding and will sit cross legged
with a pair Of spectacles 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 a lop shouldered
liar and horse thief and left him to
enjoy his own miserable society.-De-
troit Free Press.