The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-30
ELEPHANT DEMOLTSHES A CAR
RIFS OPEN THE ROOF AND
THROWS THE MOTORMAN OFF.


shows n In No Uncertain Way
Holds IN Q Tcrryb0at for on Hour.
They've got an elephant down at Asbury
Park. n fine our ton lady elephant. She
IN Mother Jumbo. who until recently was
On exhibition at Frank Bostock's Ianimal
show at Coney Island. IL looks as II Asbury
Park would have the elephant for some
time. The American Express Company
contracted to take her to Asbury and back
10 Coucy, but the express company has
thrown up the job and served notice that IL
doesn't want anything more 10 do with
Mother Jumbo. The experiment Of shipping
an elephant az an express parcel was not a
success-decidedly not.
The COMMITTEES in charge Of the Asbury
Park carnival decided that for the grand
parade this year they wanted a real elephant.
Bostock agreed to furnish Mother Jumbo.
royal robes, gold tassels and all, and when
the hour for her departure came on Wednes-
day evening nearly all Coney island was
on hand to see her OF. A big express
trolley car was backed into the Culver
line yards to receive the elephant. From
the very start it was apparent that she was
an unwilling express package. She baked
on going into the cramped quarters of the
car. and it was late when the journey was
begun.
Gen. Buster. the Bostock elephant trainer
went along "A maid to Mother Jumbo.
who was hobbled. Mr.. Bostock's French
chauffeur. WHO aspired to be an elephant
trainer. begged to- be permitted TO go too,
and his request was granted.
The trolley express car Was n box affair.
The motorman and conductor were re-
moved from each other and their only
way OF communication was by means of
bell cord signals or the stopping OF the car.
when one or the other could run from n
platform to the other.
The car had hardly got under way when
the Bostock chauffeur crawled out on the
rear platform, dropped OF the car and
started to walk back to Coney. Soon
Gen. Buster forsook the interior Of the car,
The car was then creaking and shaking
in a way that made Conductor Bill Thorpe
and Motorman Zoe Green nervous
As they were rushing across the meadows
after crossing the Coney Island Creek
the bell went -Bingl' Motorman Green
waited some time when Conductor Thorpe
walked up to the front and said:
What yer stopping here for?'
Didn't you give me the stop signalg'
queried Green.
Thorpe replied that he had not and the
two members OF the crew got into "A dispute.
Motorman Green finally got under way
and soon the bell vent -Bing!" again.
Green applied the brake, but before the
car stopped he got two rings and started
Green stopped the car, and walking around
to Conductor Thorpe. said:
Now look here" cartin' this damn
elephant is trouble enough. If yon
keep on kidding me with that bell III use
this controller or yer head, Thorpe
his conductorship and was arguing the
matter soberly when the bells. front and
ear, We're rung repeatedly. Gtfen,
r~hOrpeSnd Buster then learned that Mother
Jumbo was doing il all. Green TOOK chances
and ran on regardless of the signals.
As the car reached the edge OF Greenwood
Cemetery there was more trouble. Mother
Jumbo trumpeted loudly and then there
was a creaking and assmashing and the
car went ont Of busines The elephant had
been standed with crooked kness-and
strsightened up. The whole roof few or.
carrying away the trolley pole.
h wasn't all. Mother Jumbo had free
sweep for her trunk and she reached out
and got Motorman- Green by the neck. He
landed in a grsss plot ten feet from the track.
Mother Jumbo was carrying on at a great
rate and il looked as il the sides of the car
wouldn't stand the strain, but they did, and
an hour later another car came along and
Dueneu the TOOneSS EXPRESS car on 10 F1ftn
emu Motorman Green refused TO take
the car with the elephants trunk so near.
and with no n to inc the brake il and
the pusher were carried down the hill at "A
lively rate by the four tons of elephant
weight.
There wasn't much Of the express car
left when IL finally arrived at the Brooklyn
end Of the Fulton ferry. Then il was a
ard job to coax Mother Jumbo on 10 the
boat, but it was accomplished. 1t was
much harder to coax her of at this side.
Bunches of bananas pals Of bran mash and
all sorts Of dainties were used. The ferry
boat was held up just an hour in getting
rid OF the beast. Mother Jumbo walked
across town 10 the Liberty street ferry very
decorously. hut there was more trouble
in getting her aboard another boat and il
was daylight when the COmmunipaw yards
Of the Jersey Central Railroad were reached.
Mother Jumbo arrived at Asbury Park
about O yesterday and tool part in the .
parade in the afternoon. The express
company served notice on Bostock yester-
day afternoon that under no conditions
would they assume the responsibility for
such a gigantic task as returning the ele-
plant to Coney Island. Boetock sent word
to the company that az they had agreed
10 TAX the elephant to Asbury and return
her he would hold them TO the contract.
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company's
yesterday and the men there said il would
be necessary practically to build an entire
new car.