The Washington herald., 1911-05-07


straight on the beast went for the tree.
His massive forehead struck the trunk
about eight feet from the ground, and shook
the old oak to it's topmost btanches. ~ is,s
his hold and brought down a shower Of dead
limbs. But even an elephant cannot nproot
!, or tear down a tree with a,trunk two feet
in diameter. 80. 80 .s'a4 -. -
and seemed contemplating another charge,
when his twinkling little eye caught sight of
the fence, and he turned his attention to
that. In less than two miaatcs he had de-
thing like thirty feet Of ran fence; /: - -
Then he turned toward the old oak again,
and seemed about TO charge the tree a second
time, when something caught his eye which
evidently evidently changed his purpose He wheeled.
slant made a rush into it. .'Fi-
- For some moments he remained in a. sta
tionary attitude, as though drinking, sub
merged to his fanks in The dark water,
next ~ whispered Percy, az though fearing
that the huge beast would hear him il he
spoke aloud. - ssy..' o. .oi'i.
ha Before could reply the elephant answered
He turned toward the oak tree, elevated
his trunk and discharged several buckets OF
water at our unfortunate comrade in the
tree. ,f ~
The act was so sudden and unexpected that
shield himself The long trunk Of the ele-
phant acted like n great syringe, and pro-
PEELED the water with force almost snfiieiebs
to sweep his victim from the branches of tha
oak. ,sE.@tssE
1t would have been laughable lrad not the
beast been so terribly in earnest But LewA
danger drove all thought of anything else
from our minds.
trunk and fired column of water at The tree.
All at once he desisted, and the long trunk
emitted, instead of water, shri shrieks OF
either pain or terror. What could all him4
Percy and gazed at the elephant with added
interest, and we could see that Lew was like.
wise eagerly regarding his enemy, though no
longer in fear.
The elephant appeared to have forgotten all
about his victim, and his trunk waved to and
iro as his terrified trumpetings re echoed from
. wooded shore to wooded shore Of the pond.
Lew uttered joyful shout, and at the same
instant Percy caught my arm.
Hes eot into the qucksand, Frank. see'
1t was fact that. I a, once recognized,
The elephant was caught in the quicksands.
and even now was being drawn down by the
powerful suction. His shrill cries and violent
struggles proclaimed that he had discovered
his peril, and for the present at least It was
safe for Lew to descend the tree. Already
the water reached half way up the monsters
sides.
Lew, pitiful looking and thoroughly soak.
and Percy and l ran forward to meet him.
On the way we saw the great footprints OF
the elephant in the soft earth, which had
probably iirst started lew upon the animal'a
trail
When we reached poor Lew we found that
VIC were by no means the first to arrive OF
the scene. Several men, armed with short
iron rods and stout clubs, were OH the grounds
having been chasing the elephant since day.
break. lie had escaped from the circus thai
was to exhibit ut Mcdford that day, and, as
the trainer who. was present said, they had
expected to have n regular fight with "Old
Ben" before they subjugated him.
But their work in that line was already
done for them: The fight had been all taken
out OF old Ben" and it was really pitifui
trunk to his old keeper and uttering plaintive
cries Tor assistance.
You can thank your lucky stars, young
stcr, that he didn't get hold OF you,' said the
trainer to Lew. When Old Ben does get
mad, he's the usliest elephant ! ever saw, and
I've seen good many OF EN-"
The elephant continued to sink slowly, and
the men saw that ii anything was to be done
for hi::, it must be done at once. Two were
sent back for Chains and assistance, and in
the, ccu'sr os hall an hour gang OF men
with plenty 0; appliai,crs appeared 10 aid in
puEGs cut ;he valuable beast.
Pcicy and ! stayed and watched the work.
while Icw retired 10 sheltered spot and
dried lis cio;ti ms ia the sun. 1t was nearly
noCn before the elephant, with the aid Of
stro:iS cables aad three tcarps Of horses, WIS
pulled vat upcn the hank. lie was so ex,
mustcd that he could barely stand at first,
and rncckcr lcoe!ns elephant you never saw.
We didn't Stay 20 fish after Lew got dry,
and sn:e that adventurous day | entirely
lost Ipy interes, both in fishing a. No-Bottom
Pond and in the rachyderin members Of trav-
elm. mcna:cries.