Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-04-30
81 IN 8
True Tales OF the SaWduSt Ring.


y N1NSu enormous AT THESE places,
And wonder soon developed out ot
interest and then excitement, At
Plank tavern controversy arose be,
tween Fullerton Ford and Eheuerze
Moves, two former mmNerorS aud
woodmon too ancient tor active ser.
vice, The discussion was all about
the "Wondcrtul Performing Elephant
Bolivar
Fu)lettm Ford was full of faith in
the announcement ot the show, He
said it was the real thing" lie had
seen shows before and knew what
was what Not only this, hut he
was ready to Lack up Billy lrvink's
statement about the prowoss or
Bolivar Ia the extent of betting i've
dollars ON the truth OF the hillposter's
assertions, ne produced bin from
his wallet and placing it in the
hands OF Bonitaco the tavern.keepor
remarked to Moves:
Huh, EhCnezor, you alters was an
unheltcNer' You never did take no
stock in the Bangor WhiS nor the
bible neither"
I'm be burned il I'll be stumped,"
returned Moves dchantly, unfolding
his Erimy shoestrtng roll, and
covering Fords deposit with the CON
.dittons; ITS understood. Fullerton,
that YOU are hottin' that Stone \
Murray's has really got olerphant
in the SHOW. an that the clown
halancors him ON his chin Jest as
depictured," and Ehenc2or gave n
naughty sniff OF Contomptuous In
credulity.
The terms Of the wager were fully
understood by the bcttors aud the
stakeholder when Bily IrviuS
came in TO supper he learned of the
wager but made NO comment The
landlord, now that he was a purse.
holder, felt vast curiosity to learn
more about Bolivar and his astound,
ing ceverness and about the
herculCan attaiumCnts OF his trainer.
The published announcements were,
after all, quite mcager, and left the
whole thing a mystery
W. living, Sdlu .bpnllNtt, lhhl
man must have wonderful Jaw to
hold the elephant on his chin"
"Oh! he has responded Billy.
He got II talking back to his mother.
in-law'
As the boss billpostcd was hungry,
further explanation was not forth.
coming.
From that day until the circus az.
rived, Plank was agitatcd To tho
very steepIc of the town hall with tho
controversy between Ford and Noycs.
Half the town sided with Ebenezer
and the other half with the intrepid
sportsman who had bctted aEains.
him. In fact, Capucts aud Mont.
agues became infected with the spirit
of those two gamblers, and reckless
bets were registered all through the
thrifty community of Plank, ranging
from threeCent cigars to ono dollar
in real money
When the circus actually reached
the town no elephant was seen to
arrive or appeared in the parade. Al
the afternoon performance the land
lord Of the tavern attended in his
official capacity MS custodian of the
waSercd five dollars. business was
all that good rcputo and porfec,
weather could mako It, aud from all
tho glad eXpcCtant thrung that
pressed into the tent past Manager
and Proprietor Murray, there cam,
but one disCofdant note and that was
sounded loud and harsh by tho
rousher, though not really turbulent.
element of woodmcn A number of
them threatcningly declared.
"Et that eIlerphant Bolivar don't
stand up on the clowns chin, there's
gOin' to be trouble"
Murray was prominent in the per.
f0fmance from first to last, being
his own equestrian director and ring.
master, The threats and hints
about Bolivar had not disturbed him
IN the least, and that was perhaps
the reason why he did not breach tho
matter 10 Tom Barry the exhibitor
Of the performing elephant. or Il Is
equally likely that he did not want to
worry the clown and make him
nervous before he came on with his
elephant Be that as II may the
manager fingered AZ the rinebnck to
.obserye the reception after making
the announcements tom Barry and
the wonderful performing elephant.
Bolivar"
a great yell went up from the
audience as the clown came running
into the arena holding up Bolivar
by the hind legs.
Mile up, Bolivar" commanded the
clown, coming TO a halt in the
center Of the rng. And in a second
the huge Least was balanced on Tom
Barrys chin. placed there by the
clowns unaIded hands--yea, Bolivar,
the wonderful performing elephant,
with gracefully curying trunk and
tall his bulky form all painted
bright, alluring red--that paragon OF
modern mammoths--tbat peerless
creation Of an ingenious Partisan
manufacturer, with skin OF some
strange substance which might have
been taken for indiarubber or silk