Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-04-10
PUT ELEPHANTS IN TERROR.

1t has long been question among
scientific men whether the common
belief that elephants are in terror Of
rats and mice is worthy OF acceptance.
1t was conclusively proved yesterday
at Barnum s. Bailey's circus head
quarters In Bridgeport that tits. Un-
der the Rentorship Of TOdy Hamilton
a party of scientific and newspaper
men from this city and New Haven
visited the headquarters and saw for
themselves the terrorizing effect upon
forty five elephants Of the presence of
single rat. Tody Hamilton had sew
eral rats originally, having secured
them in this city for The experiment,
but all succumbed to the rigors Of the
weather and the exposure Of travel
ling. One rat was enough, as the ex
pertinent proved, and that one was a
Bridgeport rat caught yesterday morn
ing.
The visiters left this city on spec
ialcar at 8 o'clock, and at Bridgeport
were joined by Profs. o. G. Marsh and
D. G. Eaton of Yale and Mayor Clark,
DR.. Downs, DR.. Porter, and L. NJ.
Rich OF Bridgeport. In the New
York party we're Prof. h. #. Osborne
of Columbia College and DR.. Wort
man of the Museum OF Natural His
tory. The chief interest centred in
the elephant and rat experiment.
Thirty-fve elephants, Of whom half a
dozen were little fellows, were gather
ed in the large enclosure, double
chained by order Of Mr.. ]. A. Bailey,
who personally conducted the visitors
after they reached the headquarters.
In spite of his reputation as 4 tract
able and reliable animal, the elep hant
is more feared by circus men than any
other member of the menaserie. He
is liable to sudden ats of rage or pan
ic, aud on these occasions is about as
manageable as runaway locomotive
and has equal powers of destruction.
The visitors didn't know this, bnt
JEFF Callan and . number of other ex-
perienced circus men there understood
it well, and stood lined up near the
door ready to control hasty exit OF
all the visitors in case any Of the
giants broke away. The rat, on ac-
count OF which all these precautions
were taken, was particularly insignif-
icant specimen, and looked unhappy
by reason Of long string tied to its
tail One OF the circus men tossed 1t
out among the elephants and the per-
formance began.
First to catch sight, or perhaps it
was scent, OF it Was one Of the small
elephants. He threw his trunk In the
air, trumpeting shrill and loud. This
was the alarm. Instantly swAying
motion went through the elephant
ranks. Some screamed, Others ulung-
ed, and others doubled their feet
down under them, probably to keep
the rat out Of the creViceS in them.
Hindu mahouts say that the elephant
fear Of the rat is a dread that the
rodent will crawl into his feet. Plain
ly the fear was there. 1t was not con-
nned to the elephants either. The
rat was just as scared as they. Its
shrill squeaks as it lodged about
among the pondersuS feet made the
big fellows still more frightened.
Finally all the elephants began
plunging, and at that Prof. Marsh per.
formed feat that would doubtless
have edited his classes had they beer
there to see. A pile OF big bales ei
hay stood near him. An agile leaI
carried him to a foothold upon the
orst tier and he squirmed up the rest
Of the way with the grace and ease oi
a chipmunk ascending tree. A mum
ber OF newspaper men went after him
Prof. Marsh perehed himself near the
edge and looked down at the ele
plants.
Misrepresentation is the flrst law Of
natnre," he remarked. 81 can OBJ
serve in a more scientific frame o.
mind from here"
Presently the rat, having found
csrner, stayed quiet until it was haul
ed back by the string. The attendant
tossed it upon the back Of Bad Hattie
particularly bad-tempered elephant
Hattie did everything but turn somer
saults In her effort to dislodge her rid
er, but the rat clung, while she buck
ed. tapped her skin, shock, plunged
and rubbed against the wall, shrek
ing with fear all the time. Fiuall
one of the other elephants came T.
her rescue and swept the rodent oi
Rheunatlsm Runs Riot.
When there is Tactic acid in the blood