Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23

time you go Oh ON pat I'm going 70 me you
q weeks pay"
Towbelly promised to be good, and for two
weeks everything was grand. But on the third
pay day Towbelly disappeared. He was finally
found sleeping OF drinking bout. The spot
he had chosen for his slumberS was directly
under old Empress. To make matters worse
the elephant refused to let any one approach,
so we had to leave her out of the parade and
the elephant act for the day. When the next
pay day came around Collins was promptly
fined weeks pay. He raved and swore to no
avail-the fine stuck. He declared he would
get even If 1t took him lifetime. But weeks
rolled by with Towbelly attending soberly to
business. and the animal boss was beginning
to congratulate himself that his action had
. effected a cure.
About month afterward we pitched our top
one day away up in the Siwash Indian country
near the British Columbia line. For a week
the weather had been sweltering hot and men
and animals had suffered severely from the
clouds Of yellow dust while en- route from town
to town. shortly after the doors were opened
for the evening performance lightning began
to flash in the west, followed by distant
rumblngS Of thunder from behind the dense
forest on the edge of town. We felt we were in
for big blow and both men and animals
began 10 show uneasiness.
Circus men dread blowdownS more than any
other form of disaster. It is not so much the
possible loss Of property that worries them as
the danger Of injury to patrons who are likely
to become panicky and tread each other under
foot. As to the animals, they are accustomed
to violent electrical storms not only in their
native element but in captivity well. So as
this storm approached our men anticipated no
trouble with any of the animals except perhaps
the elephants The pachyderm is a most
peculiar critter. He will stand broadside to a
heavy storm without batting an eye. but If
branch be broken behind him or dog yelp
or child scream away he darts at top speed.
And unlike other animals he IS not restrained
by iron bars once he is free from his toe pin.
The storm gathered strength rapidly. From
the roar of the wind through the pine forest it
was evident that we were in for it. Never have
7 seen such vivid lightning The thunder
seemed to crash in our very ears. Panthers
screamed. lions roared and pandemonium
reigned.
Suddenly there came streak of forked light
ming followed by crash Of thunder and q gust
of wind which rent the canvas from peak to
Sidewalk The audience rose en- masse and made
for the open, screaming and yelling as they
ran. That was enough for the elephants. With
one mighty tug they broke their toe chains and
away they went for the towering pines adjoining
the lot, with the animal men in close pursuit.
The night was as black as ink and they were
soon lost to view. There was nothing to do but
wait for daylight.
During the night the men repaired all the
damage they could and when morning came
we went on toward the next pitch, for come
what may the show must go on-elephants or no
elephants. The only member of the organiza-
ton missing from roll call was the little ele-
plant man, Towbely Collins. The rest of us
shook our heads and said poor Collins, drunk
again."
Our boss animal man, with two brawny
assistants and three horses, stayed behind to
look for the runaway bulls" All the next day
they secured the countryside, but not trace
did they find of single elephant. They re-
turned diSheartened.
Before they started out again the following
morning some one suggested that they get the
help of Tom Longboat, a Siwash Indian living
about two miles out of town. Tom made q hv-
ing as a small hay farmer in Summer and as
a guide for hunting parties In Winter. He
knew every inch Of the surrounding country.
TOM was sent for and he agreed to help in
the search for the sum Of $40 per day. For
two solid weeks the party secured the timber
for miles around without locating the runaways
or meeting q single person who had seen them.
The boss animal man was puzzled. Where could
they have disappeared TOT? The only possible
solution he could think Of was that perhaps
they had stumbled into q morass and had mired
down to stay. He called the Indian to him.
1T doesn't look to me, Longboat, as II we viii
ever find them bulls alive, SO have decided to
quit searching for them. Here's your pay II
you want to go on looking for them on your
own, 60 ahead. will give $500 for each ele-
plant you can flnd alive and uniniured and
delivered at the railroad"
wide grin spread over Longboat's features.
"Ughi Paleface give poor Injin big wampum
three hum dol for each two-tan bull?"
THAT'S my OFFER" said the boss.
I0ngboat gave vent 70 his feelings by exc.