New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-12
rom JOHNSON AND HIS ELEPHANT
TRIP TO NETWORK THAT WAS FULL OF
INCIDENT

|
INCIDENT.
| Ton, T. Johnson OF Ohio and New-York. Is the
| owner Of nm elephant named Duchess. which Is at
present lodged In the Central Park menagerie hav-
ing been lent to the city for the winter. when mr.
| Johnson last fall found that business would COM
| pei his constant presence in this city Tor some
| months he decided to close his Cleveland nome
and to transport his lares and penntes Temporarily
to New-York II seemed simple thing to do, ana
| the preparations were going swimmingly along
| when suddenly the disposing OF Duchess for tho
! winter raised certain complications. Duchess had
long been the pet Of the family. and she must be
| placed where IL certain she would receive the
| best OF care curious diidence developing among
the stablemen OF Cleveland about housing Duchess,
which even the promise OF enhanced money
payment seemed unable to overcome. II was at
| length determined to bring her mere
| The morning OF the start beautiful one.
ard Mr.. Johnson determined TO walk TO the station
| with Duchess. He accordingly 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 had been made, 1t being
supposed that being small for an elephant ana as
gentle kitten. Duchess would be allowed 10
| travel in the bageage-car, just as a dog would.
| The bagg age-master fatty declined to admit her
| to the station and the regular baggageman who
| was to accompany the train said: well, maybe
| that elephant will travel in the baggage-car. but
II she does she will 10 do the baggage sma sh-
| Ing as she'll have the car to herself" Mr.. John
| son was In despair time was precious. ard nc
| must take this particular train. sudden thought
came TO him. and calling for the baggage ma ster $
| instructions and pointing to that clause relating
TO the checking Of trunks. he demanded that
| Duchess's trunk be checked 10 New-York. The
| defeated baggage master attached check TO her
| proboscis and as they unable TO detach the
| trunk from the rest OF the elephant Mr.. Johnson
| triunnha n,ly accompanied his the train
| Here the baggage-smasher again interposed, out
| over by a liberal tip. coupled with an IN
| PRODUCTION in due form to Duchess She acknowi-
| edged the courtesy with graceful bow, and with
her trunk shook the baggage master cordially by
| the hand. overcoming both his scrupies and his
| fears The Journey east was accomplished with
| out further incident. save that az every station
| where a stop was made large crowds assembled
| around the baggage-car.
| At New-York Duchess refused 10 leave the car
until T. was taken TO siding, where a PLATFORM
enabled her to step out on the same level as the
| floor Of the car Previous this. however, the
| baggage agent had collected a large sum OF money
| from Mr. johnson the excess baggage clause
which called for payment all baggage In excess
| OF $50 pounds per passenger. As Duchess weighs
about three tons the bill heavy, and when
| further payment for the elephant was demanded
| on account OF shifting the car 10 the siding Mr.
| Johnson refused IL The baggage master said he
would detain Duchess. Mr.. Johnson SAID All
| right" and started to leave the station, and
| Duchess started to follow. The baggage-master at
tempted to interfere. when sharp blow on the
| side OF his head from the swaying trunk suddenly
decided him to forego his intention. and the pair
| departed without further molestaton.
As Mr. Johnson and Duchess sauntered down
Fifth-av. hand in trunk, although it was late in
| tho evening. they rapidly accumulated m accom-
| psnying crowd which was Of enormous proportion
| by the time they reached their destination, the
| II, denied
| and Mr. Bodt Indignantly summoned. Mr.
Bodt backed up the refusal Of the doorkeeper, and
was deaf to either entreaty persuasion. He &C
| knowedged that dogs and other animals belonging
ment Of the Waldorf, but the line was and had al
ways been drawn at elephants ,b M
| trunk be deposited in the trunkroom, threatening
ss nls ofer d0i h mono To- dch the Mr.
Johnson interfered. and acknowledged that his oun
During this discussion with Mr. Boldt Duchess
hsnT Jonson turn me through
her threatened trunk
By this TIM 20 Snk mao e ws
in nA progress a s sent in call for the who
t the lowing v WHISPERS and se.y dinner fame told
Mr. Johnson he must move on WIN ms ,t snow s,,d
arrest arrest would he relief and demanded tina, he and
his companion 10 taken to the station, house , the
ase 1 Of vacant staSle for consideration which
fhis way S' hna s disposed Of for the night
| The next day II decided to keep the STAPLE
indefinitely. but the question OF expense soon Do
| came a factor Two attendants had 10 be pro-
petit. az to threaten the Johnson fortune with
ruin for she was like the elephant In wang,
| The elephant ate all night,
The elephant ate all day.
and he had TO labor all tn. time to keep that beast
in hay.
Mr. Johnson in desperation was contemplating
giving her TO some circus. when request for her
loan 10 the city cleared up matters;
| Duchess likes the change. as she mas TWO CONF
panions Of her own species -,
When II became known around town tnat rom -,
Johnson owned elephant. much Speculation
arose az 10 the why and wherefore OF sucn owner,
ship One astute politician thinks ne has s9Ved
lis siy sir: dev'lish sly, and nc never does any
,hIns utthout a motive The elephant has long
been considered to represent the u. -. r IN car,
ICONS and while Johnson poses as Democrat ~
last Nayoraty campaign, in my opinion his bring
ing this elephant to New York, sinking MS voice
to a Whisper at this point. rs INTENDED as a mn
TO the Republican leaders that ne lJonh1oID
open to persuasion and willing 10 become i'ep'o
A rival trolley-car magnate In brooklyn szeu
IN the situation from another point OF view say
ing: IFS an open secret that Iom l.. Is I us
prooklvn trolley lines and feel sure inc presence
~ tbis elephant Is indication or his Intention o
,noking n change. | have II on Rooo uutnVIitty
,ha1 he &c wintering large herd Of the animals IN
The South. and you mark my woruS NJ -, lis
wtl ind elephants in use on his Coney Island INES
whnr , their novelty should make them an m
Simultaneous success ,, ,..o,,,ro an i'm
Venerable silence on the SUBJECT