The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-03
OLD MAN BUzzARD's ELEPHANT.
He Did More Than His Share to Help on
n Sham Circus Parade


Sham Circus Parade
There was circus in Denver the other
day, and it reminded us OF old man Buz-
Zard aud the time he had an elephant on
his hands in Pueblo. BuzZard was
Texas drover, and had just come up from
the Panhandle with Il herd of cattle which
he sold on the Arkansas to John Tiff,
and had received several thousand dollars
i'm payment A circus and travelling
menagcrie had just been stranded in Pue-
bio, and the sheriff was selling off the
show property under an execution. Buzz.
zard was just about full enough ON that
day TO be fascinated by n thing of that
sort,and he commenced bidding on every
thing that was offered for sale. A big
snake, seventeen feet long, was knocked
down to him for $780, Next he bid So
900 for Il Bengal tiger and got him. A
big elephant brought 5000, and Buzzard
became the owner He had bid on every
thing in such Il reckless manner that the
sheriff and the show people were in an
ecstasy of delight. The Judgment was
soon satisfied, and the show people had
more surplus money coming to them
than their whole outfit originally cost.
Buzzard paid for everything, and,
being troubled with an irresistible desire
to treat everybody, he soon had the show
with him, as full as himself. A big
crowd was following the old man from
place to place, and the saloons were reap
ing rich harvest. Finally Buzzard con-
cluded to have a show at night and
grand procession instantly. The MEM
bers of the brass band were full of enthu-
siasm and everything else supplied by
the average Pueblo bar. The circus horses
were hitched to the wagons and cages,
and the big elephant brought out and
saddled. Buzzard was suddenly seized
with doubt as to whether his proper
place was on the back of the elephant or
in the cage with the lions. The circus
people, discovering that he was appar-
emily an inexhaustible mine of gold.
whskey and fun, were not disposed to
feed him to the lions yet awhile, and they
persuaded him that the post of honor and
danger was on the back of the royal ele-
plant.
Dressed like an Arab sheik, with tur-
ban and sword, followed by Mrs. Buzzard
and the children, who had come up from
Texas with the mess wagon, arranged in
n manner that suggested painted
Comanche squaws or wild Circassians,
they mounted the big elephant. The cir
Gus people could hardly keep their faces
straight. The band struck up "Dixie, -
streets All the town was at windows or
on the housetops watching and enjoying
the fun, for by this time everybody had
beard of BuzZnrd. Down on Santa Fe
| avenuue, near the Arkansas river, the
elephant stopped and began to sway dis
trunk. Whether spirit of devittry
suddenly possessed the elephant, OIL
whether the spirit of deviltry originated
with the conductor and was communi.
Gated to the elephant in some mysterious
way, the deponent saith not. Certain il
is that the elephant made straight for
the river and in he plunged. 1t was in
vain that Buzzard roared. Mrs Buz
zard shrieked and the children squalled.
| The elephant marched straight into the
deep water, and, filling his trunk full
turned 1T over his head and poured 3
flood into the houdah nearly drowning
tthe Buzzarda
/! Old Buzzapd fourished his sword and
'roared like lion. Finally the elephant
lay down and rolled over. Buzzard wa.
n good swimmer and managed to get t.
the shore with his wife and children
Seated ION the bank, with the mudd,
water dripping from them, they presented
a picture to excite pity, but the specta
tors laughed until everybody was hoarse.
| The Buzzards remained camped on itht
| Dants until the sun went down. The,
seemed to have realized that they had
been furnishing amusement for the town.
and the old man suddenly DEVELOPED a
Delligerent spirit that caused people to dc
| their laughing at q distance. Every time
anyone approached them he would
flourish his sword and swear like a
pirate. The sun Went down on his wrath
| and 1T hid the Buzzards forever Denver
Field and Farm.