Evening journal., 1906-10-30
REAL STORY
OF JUMBO

stun us II SulclidllNt OllWluk duluuCl /
pf the circus he dispatched agents to |
Europe to round up something that
would stnrtle American amusement |
lovers. That was early in the year
1882, before the magic wand Of Tody |
Hamilton had transformed the ahnor-
mality into the prodigy To use his
own words, Mr.. Barnum wanted
twenty camels, thirty ostriches or
some other big stun" lie clearly fore
saw the tangible possibilities OF the
menagerie, and, as was SO character
istic Of the great Snowman. he decided
to "go after H." His agents, headed
by a 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, rs he big
enoughT But London had no inten-
ton Of disposlng 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
Bamum's first menagerle
Two weeks later the Geological So
ciety Of London received a cablegram
from Mr.. Barnum inqulring II Jumbo
was for sale and how much money
would buy him. The members Of the
society Glanced TO be In session at the
time and the matter was given some
consideration, though they probably
thought that this fellow Barnum was
jusi Joking. However, Mr.. Barnum
received in answer TO his inquiry the
following: "YOu may have Jumbo for
900 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 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.. B0rnum's aeents ar
rived with the E2,00O for the purchase
Of Jumbo and a huge Gage 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 formality,
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 0hey say that ele
plants are afraid Of mice), and he
refused with dignity TO lend himself
to such nefarlous plans. Coaxlng and
threats were vain, and Jumbo, tri
umphant, was led back to his quarter.
for the night. He was given his usua
supper and dreamed unmolested Of th'
elysium where all good elephants go.
The agents began to appreciate tn
significance of that 'as he stands
clause. But they had plan. Tn
next day Jumbo was again escorted Z
the cage Again he respectfully dc
cllned to enter. complacently putting
foot forward and dehantly bidding tn
/ overworked men TO move him. There
{ upon stout ropes were obtained, and
soon became apparent that Jumbo wa
) to undergo the indignlty Of being pull
? ed into his new quarters. But all th
kings horses and all the kings mel
+ pulled and worked in vain. Jumb
was immovable. He had blue bioo'
I'm his veins. and he couldn't under
stand why he should be obliged to ex
change his elaborate quarters for
cage 0 by -. Again at night Jumb
= dined and dreamed in peace.
The following day was strenuous. 4
large force was drafted into service
/. Jumbo was coaxed, pulled, beaten an
, coaxed again. but again he slept an
dined in his quarters in the garden.
That "as>he stands" clause was abou
the biggest proposition that the Amel
lean showmen had undertaken for
" long time, and it soon became appare1
:. that the Britishers did possess a strea
Of humor after all. The agents &c
g busy. The next morning Jumbo wa
up with the sun and was somewha
!. surprised TO find that his breakfast wa
not I'm its accustomed place. But
G soon discovered il IN an adjoining ro0l
@ "a new room by the way, but as Jun
!. bo had been so victorious he evidentl
r thought he was deserving OF large
S apartments, anu he entered the me-
I'll addition, said grace and enjoyed h
breakfast. But that was the undoin
OF Jumbo, for no sooner had be begu
to satisfy his morning appetite than n
!. door through which he entered We
closed and tightly bolted. Jumbo W;
Z at last In the cage, which had duriu
the night been converted into an impr
yised room by the new purchaser
But Jumbo took his defeat philosophi
ally II was a case Of strategy an
a diplomacy, and he had lost The cas-
, was wheeled away to the wharf, an
v soon Jumbo was bidding adieu and q
5. reyoir to old England, and p. T. Ba
e NUNS press agents were busy tellln
5. the people OF America of the comm
OF the biggest elephant in the world.
Jumbo was born in Africa. When
wee bit Of a pachyderm he was take
to Paris, and soon thereafter he WI
taken to the London zoo, where he T
mained for seventeen years. AS me
q toned above, he stood almost twel'
feet in height and weighed about s
Ie tons. Following his departure Juml
became the reigning sensation Of 10