San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-28
5 About P. T. Barnum

responding NcuneSuay ol the preNf
| Gus year.
London Fun suggested that the
British coat of arms should be al
tered by the removal of the lion and
the substitution of Jumbo. the motto
reading, "Dieu ct Mon Jumbo"
James Russell Lowell. American
Ambassador 10 the Court of st.
James. remarked in a public speech
that the only burning question be-
| tween the two nations is Jumbo"
But the English did not give up
hope of retaining their favorite.
Some of the fellows of the Royal
Geological Society brought an action
in chancery for an injunction
against the removal of Jumbo. and
the case was argued with all serious1
ness in court. 1t was finally decided
the sale was valid.
Jumbo's Own Protest.
Jumbo himself took an active part
in the controversy by lying down in
the Royal geological Gardens and
refusing 10 20 near the large case
constructed for his removal. His
admirers were delight, ard praised
his intelligence as much as they had
previously marveled at his size.
Barifum's agent cabled to him
".Iumbo is lying in the Garden and
will not stir. What shall we do"
Barnum replied: Let him lie there
as lonr as he wants TO. The pub
licity is worth it,"
1t was said that Barnum's agents
stimulated the sentiment for Jumbo
in England: they may have started
the sentimental ball rolling. but
once it started it required no fur
| IL NO nr1i oil
plant is afraid of horse. and jun
DO. who had not been outside the
Gardens for seventeen years. sat
down as soon as he saw horse.
The superintendent of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty TO
Animals. who was in attendance to
see that Jumbo was not injured or
maltreated. refused 10 allow the use
of a goad. The superintendent of
the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty TO Children was also present
to see justice done 10 the favorite
of his charges.
Another difficulty Barnum's agents
experienced was with Jumbos size {;
there were few steamers with hatch
ways large enough to drop huge
elephant down into the hold. Final
". the Assyrian Monarch. 4 British
freight steamer. was chosen.
Then the huge box was built. and
Jumbo was led into it several times
in order to accustcm him TO his new
quarters. Finally. when he sus-
pccted nothing. he was shut up in
the crate and chained. For an hour
he struggled against confinement.
and it was feared he would smash
his cage. but the box was placed on
, wheels, and ten horses were hltcbed
10 the shafts.
During the early hours of the
morning Jumbo was led triumphant
| ly to the docks. In spite of the time
large crowd followed Jumbo on his
! ninc-milc trip TO the pier. At seven
o'clock he breakfasted and was
treated TO q large draught OF beer
, by lady admirer who had followed
him all the way from the geological
Gardens. Iumbo's keeper. Matthew
Scott. who had been his keeper since
the animals childhood. had shared
with him everything. including wills
key. beer and cuds of tobacco.
a Send-off Like a Sovereign's.
At the dock thousands of people
gait cred in windows. on roofs: and
in boats TO bid Jumbo farewell. He
was placed on a lighter ballasted
with sixteen tons of iron. and float
, cd down the Thames 10 the Assyrian
Monarch.
As the boat dropped down to
Gravesend. Jumbo received royal
honors. the crews of the training
ships mounting the yards as he went
by.
| Baroness Burlett-C outts. friend
5 and correspondent Of Dickens, adj
mirer of Louis Napoleon. and col
lector of Shakespeare foliOs, took as
l much interest in Jumbo as she did
l in her other hobbies. She Travelled
g bv train to GraveSend on the day OF
Jumbo's final departure, and she
/. took with her n party OF lords and
: their ladies. The baroness had sent
$ ahead large box of buns for the
5 use of Jumbo during his passage
$ Before the Assyrian Monarch left
!. she gave Jumbo his last bun and bid
e him goodbye. expressing the opinion
that he would find as many warm
friends in America as he had found
c in England.
4 code of signals was arranged by
which news of Jumbo was signaled
for more than twenty-four hours
after the Assyrian Monarch passed
Dover. and accounts of his health
were sent from The Lizard. the last
point on British soil. The ship also
carried elastic bags. into which com
municat!ons concerning Jumbo were
placed and dropped overheard iol
| the information OF the British public
d without Eyaggeration."
g Jumbo arrived in New York har
e Dor on Sunday morning. April ,
1889. Barnum. Bailey and Hutchln
son went down TO the ship.
When he found himself in front
of Jumbo. Barnum was almos,
moved TO tears. Dear old Jumbo.
said the Snowman, who was ther
scventy-one years old. that beas'
has cost me SJ0,C00." he added
thoughtfully. Mr.. Hutchinson was
seized with, "a fit of coughing. accord
ing to the Tribune reporter. ant
said that Barnum's figures were
trifle high, that the actual cost o.
Jumbo and his transportation was
nearer $4,000.
Barnum then asked that Jumbo
dimensions be given TO the press
How high does he reach up Will
his trunk" Barnum asked. Its
forty-nine feet, isn't it," and b.
stared suggestively at one of th'
keepers. But the keeper did no
take the hint. "Twenty-six feet. Il.
answered. Barnun remarked. If
were Il Snowman. | would have ex
aggerated it. but there's nothing lik'
the truth"
A bottle of whiskey was brought
forth for Jumbo. Barnum shouted
IL object to my elephant drinkln.