The evening times., 1899-07-31

The unusual spectacle of an elephant
prcmenading Pennsylvania Avenue was
witnessed last night about IL o'clock by
Washingtonians who happened along the
thoroughfare at that late hour. The small
procession consisted of the elephant
and two attendants. the elephant being the
centre of attraction. 1t swung into the
Avenue from Fifteenth Street shortly aft
er IL O'Clock and from that point until
| the Pennsylvania freight station was
reached an eager and curious throng OF
followers brought up in the rear.
Some OF the spectators. for the moment,
imagined that they had suddenly been
transplanted from the peaceful city of
Washington to the Orient. The small boys
who were in the elephants wake, scented
circus in town and followed with the de-
termination of seeing the whole show.
The huge animal seemed to take no no.
tice of the crowd accompanying its
march down the Avenue, but walked a'ong
with the majestic tread that it might have
done over the grassy floor of its jungle
home far from the tormenting distractions
of hooting boys and changing electric cars.
Its stolidity of demeanor was no doubt af-
fected, for had it been free from the chains
which bound its feet and without the
watchful care of the two attendants who
guided its movements with prods which
gently suggested the way at times there
] is no doubt that ii would have scattered its
attentive followers and caused more ex-
citemsnt than Washington has witnessed
D,,t
rounded by restraining influence, and Icing
a philosophical animal, it bowed TO the in
evitable and followed whittier it was led.
Horses seemed to scent the elephant
block away and for no reason apparent to
their drivers SHE'D and showed decided
| inclination to turn and run away. The few
dogs on the streets were seen to stick their
tails between their legs and make of as
| fast as possible up the nearest side street
or into the nearest alley.
While the show was passing. there were
numerous conjectures as TO where the gi-
ant beast came from and where ii was go
ing. Not few adopted the theory of the
small boy, and expressed the opinion that
circus had come TO town ahead of its
advance agent
Enquiry at the Zoo this morning how
ever, developed the fact that the ami
I mai was none other than Duchess, who has
been sojourning at the national menagerie
for nearly year past. She was loaned to
the Zoo by her owner. A L. Johnson, of
New York, about year ago. On Satur-
| day a gentleman, bearing authority to
carry her away, appeared at the Zoo, and
stated that she had been sold by Mr.
Johnson, and that he had come to claim
her for the new owner. He made known
his intention to ship Duchess 10 Erie
| Pa, and, having made all arrangements
with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
carried the Duchess of with him last
night. The officials at the Zoo were un-
able to say just what her sphere of ac-
| tion will be in her new home but they
discredit the idea that she might be about
to take part in the Republican cam
paign in Pennsylvania this fall.
All was in readiness at the Pennsylvania
/ freight station when the procession arrived
A large palace freight car, or in other
words furniture car had been placed next
! TO the platform OF the station, and every
thing was in waiting. All went we'll until
Duchess endeayored TO enter the door,
which proved 10 be close fit She seemed
| to stick in the entrance at first, but after a
little prodding from behind, and a few
shoves from the extra gang of men, which
had been detailed TO assist the Duchess,
she was finally safely installed in her new
quarters, where she was made comforta-
BILE for the long journey before her. Early
this morning her car was attached TO the
watermelon express for the North.