Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-07-25
JUMBO ARRIVES
HOME SAFELY

Jumbo. the King of elks belonging
to Alexander Billmeyer, after ten days
of excitement and adventure incident
al to the most wonderful journey that
an elk ever made, is back again in his
domicile at Washingtonville and has
resumed the even tenor of his life.
Notwithstanding his rough and per-
lious trip. including not only a ride
in the cars, but also journey to the
housetops he did not sustain scratch
nor as Harry Billmeyer expressed it
Tuesday twas a single hair rubbed
off. :" What the old elk's emotions
were, however, is another Iaatter.
Quite certain it is he made no effort
to conceal his grateful feelings when
he approached his old home.
At the present season an elk ordin-
arily is quite Unconditional in his ma
ture. Serene and equable in temper
he is not heard to utter a sound be-
yond mere shifting repeated several
times, when he is subjected to some
new experience. During the exciting
experiences of his "trip whatever his
feelings might have been they were
never manifested by anything more
than this mere act of shifting.
When the train bearing Jumbo
which arrived at Watsontown at a.
IN. Tuesday, reached Schuyler on its
way to Washingtonyille great change
came over the noble elk. Aided by
instinct he seemed to know that he
was near the herd-that he was ap
preaching his home. and rearing his
head high aloft he began to below.
Schuyler is about six miles from Wash
ingtonville and there is nothing IL
logical in the conclusion that gifted
by nature as dumb animals are, the
elk at that point knew that he was APP
preaching the rest of the herd.
The train with Jumbo on board
reached Washingtonville at S a. NJ.
The huge cage was placed on set Of
stout skids, to which was attached six
horses. 1t was two hours and half
later, or 10 80 O'Clock, when Jumbo
arrived at the park.
When the strange outfit was half a
mile from the park and a point was
reached from which the groves and the
buildings appeared in view there was
fresh outburst from Jumbo. He had
been believing at intervals ever since
leaving Schuyler, but nowthat he rec
ognized his home with all its tami
liar surroundings he became wildly
demonstrative, holding his head high
aloft and believing loud and long.
AS soon as possible Jumbo was re-
leased from his cage. Mr.. Billmeyer
Tuesday stated that he would not
have been surprised if the elk had
walked with little difficulty after
his long confinement in such cramped
quarters, but the animal did not appear
to be the least bit stiff
Tie meeting of the big elk with the
oss vnV nCIu IopCresI.
For a moment it looked as though
there was going TO be red-hot en-
counter between Jumbo and the other
bull elk, known as Job" which is
eight years of age. The two animals
instantly challenged each other, but
before they locked their antlers they
discovered that they were old friends
and instead of battle to the death
there was a love feast. This recogni-
tion seemed to come about in some
mysterious way as soon as the two
elks got their heads together
An elk is fond of the water and he
loves to wallow in the bed of the
stream. The first thing that Jumbo
did, therefore, after greeting his old
companions was TO hurry down to the
creek and take bath. He had a fine
time in the water for nearly an hour.
At the time of the interview with Mr..
Billmeyer, about O'Clock Tuesday
afternoon, the two elks, Jumbo and
Job, were lying down in the shade
side by side peacefully chewing their
cud.