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

Z you would hSrdly think it possi-
~ BILE that the smallest quadruped
Ito my knowledge could under
certain or some circumstances
almost frighten the largest into state
Of frenzy. But such is the case, that
If an elephant while palling tuft OF
grass or gathering hay should surprise
. mouse, and if 1t, as means OF escape,
should choose the oritice of the ele-
,phant's proboscis-you may picture
yourself, if clad in skirts, with the
MISUNDERSTANDING chair pres
'eut-the pachyderm would emit
screech and carry the feminine trait
out to perfection.
To demonstrate the foregoing have
chosen the following incident out OF
several of almost the same nature.
MY reason in doing 50 lis that it was
my first adventure and consequently
stands out foremost in my memory.
During my initial season as a"bulf-
man" had charge of two elephants
that were used in the grand entree
with howdahs secured to their backs
and ridden by children. These how
dahs were adjusted to their backs Oh
the outside of the menagerie, because
the sidewalks were not of sufficient
height to allow them to pass under
with them on. So it was customary to
have these "entrees" in readiness half
hour or so prior to the tournament,
stationed in q convenient place near
the dcessing-room. Que suitry after
noon while Old Sol was doing his best
to make hay took shelterln one OF
the howdahs. We were located in q
spot that had sparseiy yet luxuriant
srowth of succulent grass, Of which
the pachyderms were evidently enjoy
lug. when all of q sudden the one on
which I was mounted leaped back
wards so violently as to almost huri
me headlong from the howdah. The
subsequent zizzag manenvers with al
ternate shrieks of fright that 'ensued
ensemble, one would naturally con-
lecture from a distance, that some one
was mischievously rolling barrel
over the keys of the calliope and that
the pachyderms were trantically en-
Sdeavoring to waltz to its tune.
80 My position was rather precarious,
as their movements were SO uncertain
,that it would have been suicide for
me to have jumped, and to pacify them
from my perch was extremely difficult
eventually quieted them and imme-
.diately began loOkingsfor. the cause OF
their tumultuous behavior, when, q
spectator called my attention to small
ground mole, saying that it was blown
from the elephants ''snoIt," as he
termed it, instantly preceding the com
? motion and striking him on the breast
That Insignificant ground mole was
the cause of them exhibiting terror
that was otherwise unaccountable.
was Informed later that small rodeal
II cannot remember it's name-re
eembling mouse infests their nativ'
iungies, and these small animals, i
frightened while the elephants arr
feeding, occasionally take refuge il
their trunks. They are equipped will
claws which, when once embedded, ar
as tenacious as a .ishhoOk, and it /
sometimes impossible for the elephan
to disiodge or eject them. When thi
'transpires it induces excruciating dis
tress and in their desperate struggle
TO get rid of the tormentor, play havO
with their vitality and invariably end
In their death.
Most all of the larger shows hav
abulls" that have propensity t
sfake;" Tin the parlance. e.of the'circu
s.bulls" are elephants and to sfake"
to strike with their trunk, thus knock
ing you down, and if within reacf
completing the attack by either pir
ming you to the ground with thel
tusks or crushing you to death wit
their forefeet) to prevent this as much
possible they are shackled with clampe
chains from their tuskssto their for'
feet, thence to the hind. This ais