Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-11-07
REALSTORY OFJUMBO
HOW eARNUm GOT THE FAMOUS eLE-
PLANT "AS he STANos.D

In which Jumbo Loaf and the Great
American Snowman Won.
When L. L. Barnum anticipated the
Iecline OF the freak aud other small
stun as a superlative drawing adjunct
Of the circus he dispatched agents TO
Europe 10 round up something that
would startle American amusement
lovers. That was early In the wear
lSS2. before the magic wand OF Tody
Hamilton had transformed the abnor-
mality into the prodigy. To use his
own words. Mr.. Barnum wanted
twenty camels. thirty ostriches or
some other big stuff" lie clearly fore
saw the tangible possibilities OF the
menagerie. and, as was so character
Astic OF the great Snowman, he decided
10 go after IT," His agents. headed
10y Mr.. Davis, landed In London.
After viewing the animals In the ZOO
logical gardens az Regent park they
were ushered into the presence OF the
big elephant Jumbo. the superintend-
ent inquiring with levity. lis he big
enoughT But London had no inten-
zion of disposlng Of Jumbo. for he had
created no little stir i'm the British
metropolis because of his enormous
size. The agents departed for con
tinental cities. ana at Hamburg nine
camels were purchased and shipped
to New York TO become the nucleus of
Barnum's first menagerie
Two weeks later the Geological so.
ciety Of London received a cablegram
from Mr.. Barnum inquiring if Jumbo
was for sale and how much money
would buy him. The members OF the
society Glanced TO be i'm session at the
time and the matter was given some
consideration. though they probably
thought that this fellow Barnum was
just joking. However. Mr.. Barnum
received IN answer TO E!s inquiry the
following: You may have Jumbo for
1900 as he stands" There was con
siderable meaning To- that las he
stands clause. because Jumbo was
no ordinary elephant He weighed
something over six tons. stood over
eleven feet in his stockings and DOS
sessed mind OF his own that could be
so contrary nj times that people often
accused Jumbo OF being quite human.
In due time Mr.. Barnum's agen@ ar.
rived with the E2.COO Tor the purchase
OF Jumbo ana a huge cage in which TO
encase him and transport him TO Amer
lea. The cage was upon wheels. was
powerfully constructed and weighed
something over four tons The trans
action was made with due Formally.
ana Jumbo became American property.
Accordingly and with considerable
pOmp the big elephant was escorted
from his spacious AMI almost palatial
quarters in the garden up 10 the Amer
lean constructed cage. but Jumbo
smelled a mouse Cthey say that ele-
plants are afraid OF mlcel. and he
refused with dignity 10 lend himself
TO such netarious plans. CoaNlng and
threats were vain. and Jumbo. tri-
umphant. wis led back 10 his quarters
for the night. He was given his usual
supper and dreamed unmo!estcd OF the
eiysium where all good elephants 10.
The agents began TO appreciate the
significance OF that "as he stands
clause. But they had Il plan The
next day Jumbo was again escorted TO
the cage. Again he respectfully de
clined 20 enter, complaccntly putting a
foot forward and defiantly bidding the
overworked men TO move him. There.
upon stout ropes were obtained, and Ii
soon became apparent that Jumbo was
10 undergo the indignity OF being pull
ed into his new quarters But all the
kings horses and all the kings men
pulled and worked in vain. Jumbo
was immovable. He had blue blood
I'm his veins. and he couldn't under
stand why he should be obliged TO ex-
change his elaborate quarters for 4
cage . 10y u. Again at night Jumbo
dined and dreamed in peace.
The following day was strenuous. \
large force was drafted into service
Jumbo was coaXed, pulled. beaten and
cOaNed again hut again he slept and
dined In his quarters in the garden.
That las he stands" clause was about
the biggest proposition that the Amer
lean showmen had undertaken FOR a
long time. and IL soon became apparent
that the BritiShers did possess Il streak
OF humor after all The agents got
busy. The next morning Jumbo was
up with the sun and was somewhat
surprised 10 find that his breakfast was
not In its accustomed place. But he
soon discovered it in an adjoining room
"A new room by the way. but rs jun
10 had been so victorious he evidently
thought he was deserving Of larger
apartments, and he entered the new
addition. said grace ana enjoyed his
breakfast. But that was the undoing
OF Jumbo. for no sooner had be begun
to satisfy his morning appetite than the
door through which he entered was
closed and tightly bolted. Jumbo was
at last in the cage. which had during
the night been converted into an impro-
viSed room by the new purchasers.
But Jumbo took his defeat philoSOphic-
ally. IL was Il case OF strategy and
diplomacy. and he had lost. The cage
was wheeled away 70 the wharf, and
soon Jumbo was bidding adieu and an
revoir to old England. and T. r. Bar
NUNS press agents were busy telling
the people of America of the coming
OF the biggest elephant in the world.
Jumbo was born in Africa. When q
wee bit of 4 pachyderm he was taken
to Paris. and soon thereafter he was
taken to the London zoo where he re-
manned for seventeen years. As men
toned above, he stood almost twelve
feet I'm height and weighed about six
tons. Following his departure Jumbo
became the reIgning sensation Of Lon
don. The society was criticised for sell
inc him for II hNl Inst d ANnnl l1nnn