Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-28
FONDLED HERCULES.
SHe GIFTED ELEPHANT TRAINER RE-
ATEs HIS EXPERIENCE.

000D q ANIMAL 1xo0m4s ma 40e
Awhile Everything Ran smoeehlys bae
Nov He Sticks to Rhdnoceroesa.
Ibid you ever fondle an elephant in
, geological garden?" asked the man
with the lop shoulder as he looked
around on the group'which had been
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, II had an idea that
/ was born for an animal trainer, with
elephants as my particular specially. I
never went to New York, Philadelphia
or Cincinnati without going to the zoo
and fondling the elephants. Many and
many time 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 60"
"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. I 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 a
job. That didn't prevent me from see-
ing the elephants at every opportunity,
however, and keeping in touch with
them. One day got around to Phila-
delphia and was told that an elephant
called Hercules had been in bad humor
for a week or two. They'll had him chain
ed to the floor and his kee per darer't 60
within ten feet Ct him, while a man
stood in front Of the cage and warned
the public to keep AZ safe distance. I'd
seen the beast dozen times before, and
OH two occasions he had lifted me up on
his back with his trunk. am sure he
knew me OH 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 vinegary voice.
"Of course" replied the narrator.
"It was an occasion had been longing
for years. l wanted to show a profess
sional trainer what could do in the
way Of pacifying and humbhng an ugly
elephant, but for half an hour they
watched me SO closely that l had no
ct, 20 NJ ri InySc,,1oc Tho
came, however, and slipped into his
cage and walked right up to him and
began to speak loving words and cares
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
~ demanded the baldheaded man in the
big rocking chair.
Eat the recollection of what occurred
then and there. I 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 plaEks of his cage. But TO,
the quickness of some of the zoo folks
| in coming to my rescue I'd have been 9
dead man i'll another minute. They
handled me out O. that with hooks, anG
the beast was so mad at my escape thai
| he broke one of his tusks off in banging
around. People q mile away could hea
him scream in his rage. Everybody sait
it was wonder how escaped with my
life. My left leg and left arm wer,
broken, my spine injured, kncecal
loosened, and didn't get over spittin.
blood for year. was in hospital il
Philadelphia for 207 days before could
walk out. Gentlemen, here are TIVE
more tears May depend ON your gen
crosby to excuse them as before:''
"What you sniveling about now?'
shouted the baldheaded man as he turn
cd on him.
"More recollecrions, sir. l was n,
sooner able to be out than I was arrest
ed, tried and convicted Oh the charge o
fondling an elephant, and the judg
sccked me $25 and costs. The who'll
affair cost me s42S, saying nothing O
my sufferinSs and lost time. -
and after that you left the elephan
training business alonc?"
"Yes, after that" replied the lo]
shouldered man in broken tones, II le
lup on elephants and gave my whole at
tention to rhinoceroses. Excuse m,
lseeming conceit, gentlemen, but l an
the only man i'll the world who cal
make q rhinoceros stand ON his hea,
and spin about like top. He also play
Home, Sweet Home Gil the accordion
at my bidding and will sit cross legge'
with pair of spectacles Oh and preten'
to read the good book which our moth
ers taught rs to respect.
There was silence for a long minut
! after he had finished. Then every ma,
rose up and called him lop shoulders
, liar and a horse thief and left him I
enjoy his own miserable society.-De
troit Free Press