Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-06
coNQUERING AN elephant.
How Robinson's Old Chief Was Made
to Know His Master.

TOW hopinSonS OIo Chior was Wdoo
to Know His Master.
Gil Robinson, the famous circus
man, has been in town for the past
fortnight, laying off, on one Of his
periodical trips around the world, and
as usual he is full Of "reminiscences of
the old circus days when he, with his
father, the late John Robinson. were
making the family fortune with Rob-
inson's circus. An elephant story IN
daily paper brought out some OF
"Girs" recollections Of his days as an
elephant trainer, especially as related
to one huge pachyderm who reveled
in the name Of Chief.
"Chief," said Mr.. Robinson, "was one
of our best. and at the same time
worst elephants. He was great per-
former and very kind to children, but
he had little use for men. Familiarity
with them had bred contempt in his
leathery head. One day In an Ohio
river town. Chief lost his usual good
nature toward children. too and killed
boy who got too near him. We didn't
want to kill the elephant, for he was
valuable, so we hustled him out OF
town with the show. But he had to
be taught lesson, and my father put
it up to me to teach it to him.
II had Chief taken to a dock by
the river in the next town and q
chain fastened around one Of his hind
legs. Then with a big derrick, we
hoisted him clear Of the ground. Next
I made all the men get big clubs and
start in to beat the everlasting nerve
out of the elephant. They beat, plug
ged, pounded and jabbed, but Chiei
never let out whimper. And If you
can't make an elephant holler when
you punish him he is still defiant
When he gives in he whimpers.
FINALLY 1 got a bale Of hay, and
spreading it under Chiefs swinging
frame, set fire to the loose hay. In
a. minute he was conquered. He lei
out a cry Of defeat that there was no
mistaking it, and they cut him down.
I led him back to the tent by the
trunk, as docile as a kitten. From
that day on he was frightened 10
death Of me, and it was pitiable to see
his fear. I used to laugh when ]
thought Of that mass Of flesh and
strength being scared Of a little being
like me, when. If he had known it ne
could have blotted me out with wig
gle Of his trunk or one stamp OF his
enormous foot. But he was just plumb
afraid Of your truly.
"One night I was at prize fight IN
Cincinnati when a boy came down the
aisle and whispered in my ear, The
big elephants loose. Mr.. Robinson,
was all he said, but I knew what that
meant, and followed him. Chief. II
seemed had got away from the show
and was out in one Of the suburbs
pushing over houses.
IL followed his trail easily, and soon
came upon him. Chief was the boss
of little cottage settlement, which
he was rapidly exterminating. All ne
had to do was to lean heavily against
a house and over it would go. Then
he would proceed to the next, and IN
that manner had disposed Of seven OF
eight frame dwellings. AS I drew
near he was wrestling with another
and the terrified family, at safe dis
tance, were weeping and wailing
Chief seemed to be enjoying the af-
fair hugely, and I could almost sec
his huge sides shake with laughter as
1 approached from behind.
ri ran up alongside Of him and gave
him a slap. Here, you lopsided
leather-headed, moth-eaten old raps-
callion,' 1 shouted, only those were not
quite the names I called him, What
the dickens do you mean?
| "Chief turned and saw me. His face
fell. He began to tremble. and he let
out a yell of fear that shook the
neighborhood. It was like a mother
catching her youngster in the jam
closet.
"I grabbed him by the trunk. gave
him a yank or two. and lugged him
back to his tent, calling him down all
the way. And he whimpered and
bawled like a baby. Once at home
had him soundly punished.
"Chief was like that till the day OF
his death. and have the satisfaction
of remembering that at least one in
habitant of this earth lived and died
in abject fear of your truly."-NeW
York Post-Dispatch.