The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-31
SKINNED THE BABY
SEVERAL MEN ARE IMPLICATED IN
Tbs AFFAIR.

4
moved From the Bones-Post Norten
Examination is Held to Ascertain Wha
| Was the Cause OF Her Death-Nr. Payn.
| Conducts the Job-LittIe Annie Was tn.
Baby's Name and She Was the Pet Ele
| plant of McMahan's Circus.
Yesterday afternoon the JOB OF remov.
! ing the cuticle of the baby ELEPHANT, Lit
| tie Annie, who died day or two ago
| was undertaken. Charles Payne, the an
| imai dealer on the West Side, undertook
| the job, and he called TO his assistance
Philip Ohenstein, Robert Holden and
| Charlie Snreve. who are three Of the best
butchers in the city.
| AS may be imagined, the undertaking
OF skin9Ing an ELEPHANT is by no means
small jos. Little Annie was McMahan' 5
TICK elephant, and although called the
baby, was a good-sized animal, and the
| fact trait about ten men were employed
in The JOB, speaks for itself as 10 the
amount Of work which was necessary to
perform the task
The skin IS hard, rough texture, with
very little hair upon it. 1t is quite thick,
tco, arC in some places adheres to the
| carcass with wonderful tenacity The
animal was drawn out of the barn early
in the morning and was very cold when
the work was begun. Every butcher,
and any one else who ever tried 10 re-
move the hide from an animal, knows
that after the animal has become cold
and after the "rigor morris" has taken
place, that il is much more difficult 10
remove tie hide. The men went 10
work, however, an got IL off whole, with
OUT hole in it which was not intended.
The hide was then dragged away and
spread upon the ground with the flesh
side ur. a barrel of salt was then used
upon l. and rubbed thoroughly into it
The animal was not hung up. as is usu-
ally done with cattle when being skin
ned, but was left lying upon the ground
as its great bulk would have been almost
out of the question to have raised from
IT. ground by any available means.
With the Use of a block and tackle the
hide was being pulled at the same time
that the butchers were at work with
knives, and this assisted quite materially
il the work OF removing and handling
the large and bulky hide.
After the skin had been taken care Of
work was begun upon the huge carcass.
The blocks we're attached to a strong
wall quite high up and the work Of dis
memberment began. First the head
was removed. The joint sets a little far
ther back than il does in cattle. The
large head was then rolled off TO one
side by the men and soma of them went
- work 10 remove the flesh. The trunk
is a wonderfully constructed thing. It
is one solid mass of hard muscle and
snew. After looking at il without its
covering OF skin some small conception
OF its power can be attained. The two
nosIris continue on into the head at
abou, the size OF mans thumb and the
lining is OF very tough fibre. Not con-
tanning a bone CT any kind, the trunk is
very supple as well as powerful. Many
stories have been told of the strength of
this part of the huge animal, and after
seeing il laid open a far better faith OF
the truth OF some OF them comes 10 the
beholder al once.
The legs were removed first by the
use of the tackling, and the sockets were
remarkably deep set. When the trunk
was opened a careful search was main
tanned for the cause Of the death Of the
animal Nothing was found however.
until the heart was reached. II was OF
normal proportion, being about the size
of wooden pail Mr.. Payne took it off
TO one side to make A careful eXamlna-
ton and found d small humorous growth
upon ii. Il was not large but indicated
where the trouble lay. Mr.. Payne stat
Ell that in his opinion death was only the
ultimate result of extreme loneliness
Animals" said he, like company as
much as men," The elephant has been
practically alone for a long time. There
are three other elephants, but they
would not associate with the baby ele-
plant al all. as they were all much larg-
er and select as TO their company and
poor Little Annie just simply plned
away and died.
Mr.. Payne is thoroughly conversant
with all kinds and classes Of animals,
and has made their care and handling a
matter of study from both practical
AMI scientific standpoint. Their care
while living, and also how 10 take care
Of what remains after death, has occu-
pied his attention for years, and he is
without doubt the best posted man in his
line anywhere in the west.
The flesh was removed from the bones
ana care was taken not 10 break any Of
them. Ii seems strange TO speak Of care
being taken to avoid breaking any Of the
huge bones, but in butchering so many
bones are severed and CHOPPED that this
care was found necessary.
After Il was skeletoniZed, il was all
packed closely in an immense box, and
freeiv treated with salt. II is TO be
mounted and sent TO a museum OF ma
tural history, as also is the hide. The
job was quite a large one and one which
required skill in the art OF which Mr..
Payne is an adept. Il is not known just
when thu work Of mounting Will begin,
buc il will be in the near future