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

cutting an impromptu war dance adding with
loud whOop:
"Big chief wait one sum-" he yelled over his
shoulder as he sped down the street.
Puzzled over the situation, the boss decided to
await developments for "a hours. The next
morning at daylight he was awakened by the
shrin trumpeting of an elephant. He recog-
nized that sound He jumped out of bed and ran
to the window. Down the street hundred
yards away came five majestic elephants along
with no less a parsonage in the lead than Tow
belly Collins, smiling broadly. Siwash Tom
Longboat strolled along in the rear.
When the storm frightened bulls had burst
for the timber Towbelly, true to his trust, had
set out after them. Guided by the noise of their
crashing through the timber he had kept in
touch with them throughout the night. When
daylight came the elephants stopped to browse
on the tender shoots along the trail Towbelly
had approached softly until he got within q
hundred yards of the runaway herd. Then he
sounded the peculiar whistle which he always
gave as a signal for the entrance Of the ele-
plants for their act. Old Babe stopped feeding
instantly, trunk poised in midair Again the
whistle sounded and Babe replied with q
trumpet of satisfaction.
Collins waited no longer, but walked right up
to him, threw the hook into his hide and led
him into the open. The others followed. The
cavalcade emerged from the timber at point
close to the hay farm Of Tom Longboat. When
the Indian was engaged to guide the searching
party Collins persuaded him to steer the party
Of searchers away from the spot where the
elephants were in hiding.
The Indian was paid 81 500 as promised-$3OO
for each elephant Although no one could prove
it, we all suspected that he split with Towbelly
$3.50. At any rate, Towbelly always consid-
cred, after that, that he had got more than
even for the loss of his weeks pay.
GEORGE CONKLIN, Barnum's best mena-
gerie boss, had in his working herd q mon
strous elephant named Samson. He was as
strong as his Biblical nameSake. At times Sam
son was a bad actor. He had taken an acute
dislike to suit Of red tights that Conklin
usually wore in the open den of lions when on
parade. AS Samson's position was next to the
cage Of lions, he was obliged to have Conklin'S
lurid suit Of tights Haunted in his face continue
ously. The sight weighed heavily on Samson's
surly disposition Daily he trumpeted his dis
like.
Several times warned Conllin that Samson
was on the verge of a rampage, but he couldn't
see it. One day as the parade had reached
the lot and was breaking up. Conklin's open
cage of lions was driven under the cover Of
the menagerie top with Samson following. The
trainer stepped from the den almost in the face
of the surly beast.
Suddenly the elephant seemed to go wild
"batty," as the circus people put it. He reached
for Conklin with his trunk. George ducked
under the den of lions AS an elephant never
goes round an obstacle in his path, Samson put
his shoulder to the side Of the cage, gave q
mighty heave and over it went, almost catching
Conklin beneath it.. He turned from the cage
to the horses and bowled over four of them.
Conkln picked up handy pitchfork and
began jabbing the elephant In the hind legs
Samson turned on him again, and again George
bod knoINt v1d
aside like chaff. Realizing that the animal
must be got outside the top II the menagerie
was to be saved, Conklin called TO Cole. his
assistant, to bring horse and shotgun in q
hurry He jumped on the horse, grabbed the
gun and hit for the open, Samson right behind