The Portland daily press., 1898-02-18
TOM JoHNsoN's ELEPHANT.
Her Journey From Cleveland to Central
Park.
New York Tribune.

"a the o6ner Of an elephant named OUCH
ess. which is at present lodged in the
Central Park menagerie, having feen
lent to the city for the winter. When Mr..
Johnson last fall found that business
would compel his constant presence in
this city for some months, he decided to
close his Cleveland home and transport
his lares and penates temporarily to New
York. 1t seemed simple thing to do,
and the preparations swere going swim
mingly long when suddenly the disposing
of Duchess for the winter raised certain
complications. Duchess had long been
the pet of the family, and she must be
placed where it was certain she would
receive the best of care. A curious diff
dence developing among the Btablemen OF
Cleveland about housing Duchess, which
even the promise of an enhanced money
payment seemed unable to overcome, 1t
was at length determined to bring her
here.
The morning of the start was beaut1-
full one, and Mr.. johnson determined to
walk to the station with Duchess. He ac-
cordingly left his Cleveland home on foot
with the elephant swaying along in his
wake. At the railway station the first of
the series of difficulties occurred. No
provision in the way of a special car had
been made, it being supposed that, being
small for an elephant and gentle as
kitten, Duchess would be allowed to
travel in the baggage car, just as dog
would.
The station master fatty declined to ad-
NIT her to the station, and the regular
baggageman who was to accompany tnat
train said: well maybe that elephant
will travel IN the baggage car, but II sne
does she will have to do the baggage
smashing, as she'll have the car to her
SELF" Mr.. johnson was in despair; time
was precious, and he must take this par
ticular train. A sudden though came to
him. and calling for the baggagemaster'
instructions and pointing to that clause
relating to the checking of trunks, he de-
nanded that Duchess trunk be checked
to New York The defeated baggage
master attached check to her proboscis,
and as they were unable to detach the
trunk from the rest of the elephant Mr..
johnson triumphantly accompanied his
pet to the train. Here the baggagemaster
again inUerposed, but WAS won over by
liberal tip, coupled with an introduction
in due form to Duchess. She acknowl-
edged the courtesy with graceful bow,
and with her trunk shook the baggage
master cordially by the hand, overcoming
both his scruples and his fears. The jour
ney East was accomplished without fur
Their incident, save that at every station
whare stop was made large crowds as
sembled around the baggage car.
At New York Duchess refused to leave
the car until 1T was taken to siding,
where platform enabled her to step out
on the same level as the floor of the car.
Previous to this, however, the baggage
agent had collected large sum of money
from Mr. johnson on the excess baggage
clause, which called for payment on all
baggage in excess of $50 pounds per pas
senger. As Duchess weighs about three
tons the bill was heavy, and when further
payment for the elephant was demanded
on account of shifting the car to the
siding Mr. johnson refused it. The bag
gage master said he would detain Ouch
ess. Mr.. johnson said "All right" and
started to leave the station, and Duchess
started to follow. Ths baggage master
attemptedito interfere, when u sharp blow
on the side of his head from the swaying
trunk suddenly decided him to forego his
intention, and the peir departed without
further molestation.
AS Mr. johnson and Duchess sauntered
though it was lats in the evening, they
rapidly accumulated an accompanying
crowd, which was of enormous proportions
by the time they reached their destination,
the Waldorf. Here admission was denied
Duchess, and MIR. Boldt was Indignantly
summoned. Mr.. Boldt backed up the
refusal of the doorkeeper, and was deaf
to either entreaty or persuasion. he ac-
knowledged that dogs and other animals
belonging to guests were occasionally
lodged in the basement of the Waldorf,
but the line was and had always been
drawn at elephants. Mr.. Johnson changed
his tune. and demanded that Duchess
trunk be deposited in the trunk room,
threatening suit if this was not done.
Mr.. Boldt sent fora carver and order him
TO detach the trunk. Mr.. johnson inter
fered, and acknowledged that his bluff
WAS called.
During this discussion with Mr.. Boldt
Duchess added greatly to the joy of the
bystanders by whistling "Mr. johnson,
turn me loose, 4" through Ter threatened
trunk.
By this time so dense q crowd had as
sembled that an outlying policeman,
thinking riot was in progress, sent in
call for the reserves, who shortly arrived
on the scene. The captain Che of the
flowing whiskers and Seely dinner fame)
told Mr.. johnson he must move OF with
johnson YEARLY said arrest would be a
relief, and demanded that he and his com
panion be taken to the station house.
The captain, for reasons of his OWL,
changed his tactics, .and said no. AT this
point q bystander offered the use OF a
vacant stable for a consideration, (which
offer Was eagerly accepted, and Duchess
was in this wayssfnally disposed of for the
night.
The next day it was decided to keep the
stable indefinitely, but the question of
expense soon became factor. Two at
PENDANTS had to be provided, and Duchess
developed SO abnormal an appetite as to
threaten the johnson fortune with ruin.
for she was like the elephant in Wang, :"
where
"The elephant ate all night,
The elephant ate all day"
And he had to labor all the time to
keep that beast in hay"
Mr.. johnson in desperation was con-
te,nplating giving her to some circus,
when q request for her loan to the city
nj o,.ad