The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-05
REALSTORYOFJUMBO
HOW 6ARNUM GOT THE FAMOUS ELE-
PLANT "AS HE STANDS"
Caging the Monster Brute Was q Con-
test Between Strength and Strategy
In Which Jumbo Lost and the Great
American Snowman Won.

American Snowman Won.
When P. I. Barnum anticipated the
decline of the freak and other small
stuff as a superlative drawing adjunct
Of the circus he dispatched agents to
Europe to round up something that
would startle American amusement
lovers. That was early in the year
1882, 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" He clearly fore
saw the tangible possibilities of the
menagerie, and, as was SO character
istic of the great Snowman, he decided
to ''gO after it, His agents, headed
by Mr.. Davis, landed in London.
After viewing the animals in the ZOO
logical gardens at Regent park they
were ushered into the presence Of the
big elephant Jumbo, the superintend
ent inquiring with levity, lis he big
enough?' But London had no inten-
ton of disposing Of Jumbo, for he had
created no little stir in the, British
metropolis because of his enormous
size. The agents departed for con-
tinental cities, and 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
nj of
from Mr.. Barnum inquiring if Jumbo
was for sale and how much money
would buy him. The members of the
society CHANGED to be in 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 his inquiry the
following: you may have Jumbo for
$4,000 as he stands" There was con-
siderable meaning to that ''as he
stands clause, because Jumbo was
no ordinary elephant. He weighed
something over six tons, stood over
eleven feet in his stockings and pos
sessed a mind of his own that could be
so contrary at times that people often
accused Jumbo Of being quite human.
In due time Mr.. Barnum's agents ar
rived with the $4,000 for the purchase
of Jumbo and huge cage in which to
lea. The cage was upon wheels, was
powerfully constructed and weighed
something over four tons. The trans
action was made with due Formally,
and Jumbo became American property.
Accordingly and with considerable
pomp the big elephant was escorted
from his spacious and almost palatial
quarters in the garden up to the Amer
lean constructed cage, but Jumbo
smelled a mouse they say that ele-
plants are afraid of MICE, and he
refused with dignity to lend himself
to such nefarious plans. CoaXing and
threats were vain, and Jumbo, tri-
umphant, was led back to his quarters
for the night. He was given his usual
supper and dreamed unmolested OF the
elysium where all good elephants go.
The agents began to appreciate the
significance of that las he stands
clause. But they had a plan. The
next day Jumbo was again escorted to
the cage Again he respectfully de-
clined to enter, complacently putting
foot forward and defiantly bidding the
OverwOrked men to move him. There
upon stout ropes were obtained, and 1t
soon became apparent that Jumbo was
to undergo the indignit2 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
in his veins, and he couldn't under
stand why he should be obliged to ex-
change his elaborate quarters for a
cage 8 by IL. Again at night Jumbo
dined and dreamed in peace.
The following day was strenuous. A
large force was drafted into service.
Jumbo was coaxed, pulled, beaten and
coaxed again, but again he slept and
dined in his quarters in the garden.
That "as he stands clause was about
the biggest proposition that the Amer
lean showmen had undertaken for
that the Britishers did possess streak
Of humor after all. The agents got
busy. The next morning Jumbo was
up with the sun and was somewhat
surprised to find that his breakfast was
not in it's accustomed place. But he
soon discovered it in an adjoining room
"a new room by the way, but as Jum
DO had been so victorious he evidently
thought he was deserving of larger
apartments, and he entered the new
addition, said grace and 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. 1t was a case of strategy and
diplomacy, and he had lost. The cage
Id - %ln RIB NJ nyad