Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-21
WICKED ELEPHANT,
FOR YEARS In CHAINS,
HAS BECOME GENTLE
Bold, Bad Gunda," Who
Once Had Murderous Dis
position, Shows Evidence
of Change of Heart.

NEW YORK, Sept 2i.-Gunds, the bold
bad Indian elephant Of the Bronx Zoo
which for two years past has been
chained in his cage by one hind foot
and one front foot, unable to move ex-
cept for a swaying motion of the body,
has been given some measure OF freedom.
Not yet is he allowed to have free run
of the inclosure outside his quarters, but
a heavy wire cable, some 90 feet long,
has been run from the fence around his
pen to the cage inside OF the house, and
Gunds's only remaining chain, on his
right fore foot, is attached to ring
which runs along the cable. SO the big
elephant has liberty of movement for q
space some so feet long and eight or ten
feet wide.
Gunda was tied up originally because
of murderous attacks which nearly cost
the life of Walter Truman. one of his
Keepers He was vicious said the Zoo
officials, and must be kept tied up as a
measure of necessary precaution. In q
statement issued by the Executive Com
mittee Of the New York Geological So
ciety on August Z, it is said that "even
IL he were turned loose today he would
not move about for the purpose of real
exercise but he would move for the
purpose of injuring his keeper or a
visitor"
EVIL FOREBODINGS ENREALIZED.
But this pessimistic forebodng, so un-
generously anticipativc IN its view of
the elephant character, has not been
realized. Dick Richards, who with Thu
man, chaperones the elephants, rhi-
noceroses and hippopotamuses of the ZOO,
said that while the transfer was being
made Gunda was extremely docile, and
that since then he has behaved with un-
examplcd mildness.
In fact. it seems that the big elephant
has attained a position something like
that of trusty in a prison, and he has
done 1t by good behavior. 1t was during
''musth,' the season of excitement,
that he made the attack OH Truman
which resulted in his being tied up.
When the friends of the elephant beeun
to clamor for his release early this
summer the Zoo officials explained that
the season was on again. But it was
resolved at that time. II is said to
watch him and see how he behaved
when the period Of musth was over.
II ended about a month ago, and since
then Gunda has behaved so meekly
and so piously that it is believed he has
experienced a change OF heart.
CHANGE or HEART EVIDENT.
The matter came to a head last Mon
day. when Colonel Alfred Wagstaff the
president and William X. Horton, the
manager Of. the Society for the Pre-
nF nir N.bo ;,a ,vn
been working in Gundas behalf ever
since attention was first called to the
elephants plight. paid visit to DR..
William r. HornadHy, director OF the
Zoo, who told them that a great change
had come over Gunda and that he was
much mildcr than he used to be. and
finally agreed to take a chance by giving
the elephant measure of liberty. Tic
chance was taken. and Gunda has done
his best to prove himself worthy Of it
and to show his gratitude.
Gunda, as his keepers had declared be-
fore he was put on the cable. is rather
housekeeping sort of person. Whether
he naturally disllSes exercise or is at
tachsd to the comforts of his own
hearthstone, he spends most of tho time
in the cage whore he had been chained
for the last two years. Perhaps his long
ca ptivity has bred diffidence and m
willingness to venture back into the
unfamiliar surroundings of the world
outside, perhaps II is mere laZiness. II
is only at intervals that he strols slow
ly along the cable. Punishment appears
to have had in his case the muCh-desired
retormatorY influence. and the paroled
captive, chastened by his misfortunes,
now stands beside his cable aud Gsaes
with contemplative benevolence at the
crowds.
The present move, it is said Is only
an experiment but so far il seems to
have been justified. and should TIN" Gle
plants temper continue to improve it may
be that he will get more liberty in due
time. And, at any rate, his condition now
is very nearly all that his best friends
baya over asked