The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-08-15

ng desirous OF change asked to be
transferred to the menagefie. There
,eing a vacancy. his request was grant,
ID He was assigned to two dens of
cats" which in time he took dislike
o aud exchanged positions With one
If the elephant men. After familiar
zing himself with his duties, he be-
came little too ambitious, or in the
too swift. He was game
to the core, but that ayaiis man moth
ing under adverse circumstances. The
fiercest ''bull" III the herd, one that
very few meE could successfully ham
die, showed disposition towards him
that it would have been we'll for him to
have needed. But he was fearless and
gave her openings that very few tried
men would have ventured. He under
took to subdue this "bull," whatsoever
the consequences.
Que day while haying-up, during the
time this elephant. was "bulling," he
Inadvertently or Intentionally run a
pitchfork into his sdrunk. The resent
ment followed SO quickly as to take
him off his guard, and he was hurled
at least twenty feet. When he came
to he grabbed the first pitcbfOrk that
he could lay his hands to and waded
into the "bull." 1t seemed as tho the
elephant expected this move aud pre-
pared himself accordingly. While the
"bullman" was getting i'll some close
licks he dexterously twisted the fork
out of his hands, shifted it to better
hold, swung it over his head and de-
liberately threw it within narrow
margin of the sbullman's" head. lie
was dumfounded at the turn of affairs
and concluded that the best thing for
him to do was tu.hand in his time.
Here is an instance where careless
ness was the cause OF an animal man
being faxed" Who ought to have
known better, byrunning between two
elephants with pail of water i'll each
hand. Now in q case Of this kind an
elephant is liable to take ciout at it's
trainer or best friend less lone one that
exercises no controlover it. Nor is 1t
occasioned by malicious intent or pent
up animosity. 1t is actuated by sheer
excitability and an uncomfortable nerv-
GUS action.
This nan in order to make a second
trip for water, before the water wagon
left the menagerie, chanced the risk of
passing between the elephants on a
run in All effort to accomplish his pur-
pose. 1t was cloudy snd stormy day
when objects were hardly distinguish
able on the moment, and probably this
may account for the accident. This is
rather drawn out, but to conclude he
got to his designation faster than he
ever expected to by receiving lift in
the stern that c.rried him, minus the
pals of water, up agai ilst one of the
cages in his care as tho he was shot
out of catapult.
You might ask where is the most
dangerous place in hanC .ng elephants
l should think in the ca when chain
ing of nights where you are hampered
by inadequate light and space so as tt
compel you to crawl underneath them
Should they commence fighting, whicf
they occasionally do, your position ii
onui6h1o off NJ
a time when the only thing that savet
me from being crushed was stroDgl.
constructed "bull" hook which 1 uset
to advantage by holding the blunt ent
against the end of the car with tn,
other embedded in non-belligerent'
thigh that was crowded sideways whil
l was preparing to chain him to th'
floor. If he should have had forward
or back ward play it would Of been al
, off withsme.
J.. Another place is during sudden o
Violent wind storm which at time
rends the canvas, thus causing it t.
], flap, with the quarter poles jumping
J. swaying, and things in general creak
| ing and groaning under the Oppressive
burden. This exigency must be me
/ by Immediately unchaining the ele
r plants and without any delay tax
them out IN the open. The e"bullmens
resources are taxed to the utmost il
D this trying position thru the difficulty il
!, unfastening them In their highly nery
GUS and ekcitsbie condition, whic
: tend to influence those unfettered t