Year: 1865




burgh's Menagerie communicates to the
New York Tribune an article about ele-
plants. We reproduce a couple Of ex-
tracts from his article:


TRAITS AND DISPOSITION OF THE ELE-


PLANT.


Very little, if any, affection exists in
the elepbat toward bis keeper. That dis
reputable quadruped, Old Hannibal, has
indeed been known to indulge in frantic
demonstrations of delight at the approach
Of a former keeper whom he had not seen
for many months, while on the other hand
Tippoo Saib, who is one Of the best be-
haVed of his race, last winter refused to
bear the slightest recognition upon one Of
his former keepers, who had him in charge
for years. When an elephant rebels, his
! keeper is the first man that he tries to
kill. Mr.. Langworthy had charge of Boil
ivar for nine years and half, during all
/ of which time he was under the most
complete subjection, but one day the old
fellow turned on him with such fury that
be had barely escaped with his life They
are generally fond of the companionship
of dog, and viii submit to any quantity
Of insolence from one Of that species after
the latter has gained a footing in their
good graces. There vas a celebrated dog
called ' Turk" that travelled for many
years with Bolivar, and exercised a com
plete control over that huge creature.
When Bolivar made his attack on Lang
worthy, Turk" rushed undauntedly to
the rescue, and kept his attention employ
ed until enough men were got together to
overpower the elephant. There has never
been an instance known in this country of
an elephant iDjuring a stranger without
prOvOcation, unless in one of the fits Of
madness to which they are sometimes
subject. Their keepers may take them
through the most dense crowds without
the slightest danger to the throng If
they are insulted, however, they will re-
sent it. Last summer, while Van Am
bUrgh's travelling establishment was max
ing procession through the streets Of
Boston, a Hibernian gentleman, a street,
sweeper by profession, amused himself by
thrusting his broom into Tippoo Saib's
mouth. There was a whisk of the ele-
plants trunk and the next instant there
was an astonished Irisbman sailing over
the assembled multitude. He was not see
riously Injured, however. Elephants ap-
pear to have a special spite against show
men, and will strike menagerie man
whenever they can get opportunity. They
will sometimes take dislike to individu-
ais. While Van Amburgh was travelling
in England, there was a musician in the
band who was in the habit of amusing
himself by placing paper balls in his from
bone and blowing them out at Bolivar
He was frequently cautioned in regard to
the habit, but persisted in it. One
day Bolivar happened to pass the band
wagon while this individual was blowing
away at his trombone, when, without the
slightest ceremony he reached into the
vehicle with his trunk, pulled out the IN
fortunate musician and hurled him at a
distance of twenty feet, breaking several
of his ribs. Bolivar then made charge
for him, and would have finished speedily |
had it not been for the interference of his |
keeper. Elephants are subject from phys |
ical causes at times to fits of mOroseness, !
sometimes increasing to fits of frenzy,
when they are very dangerous unless prop !
erly secured. Then they pay no regard to
keeper or any one else. It was during one |
of these fits of madness that Hannibal
made his celebrated raid on the road be~
tween Pawtucket and Fall river in 1854, |
when he escaped from his keeper and ran
nine miles, destroying everything in his
way. These fits can generally be foreseeD
and guarded against. Elephants dc not
like tobacco, but the stories told, and gen
orally believed, in regard to their visiting
with dire vengeance any one who should
offer them the weed, are all stuff. Indeed.
there was an elephant here some years
ago, cs4ed Poodah, that would eat paper
after paper Of fine cut withe the greatest
apparent relish. Generally, however, they
escheW it. But they all like rum. Ev-
cry elephant seems to have natural taste
for Rhiskey, or any intoxicating drink.
Bolivar, when he was in the Tower of
London, and quite small, was made drunk
one day on highly sWeetened grog, and
his antics were said to be indescribably
comical. He always was a regular topper
whenever he could procure the material
On one occasion, after he had come to ma
ture years, he broke into brewery, ate
the malt, got gloriOusly fuddled on ale,
and finished by smashing things up gem
orally. That spree cost Mr.. Van Amburgh
very heavy sum in the way Of damages.
Elephants are extremely timid in regard
to rats and mice. A rat running through
the straw bedding of old Hannibal Will
cause that immense beast to trumpet in
the widest terror. They sometimes object
to their keepers changing horses. The
keeper, when travelling on the road, usu-
ally rides on horseback. The elephant
becomes accustomed to the company Of a
particular horse, and well conducted ele
plants have been known to turn upon
keepers when they appeared with new
mount They are extremely jealous in re-
gard to any assumption Of authority, or
any undue familiarity on the part Of any
one except the regularly acknowledged
keeper. This accounts for their antipathy
against shOwmen. They are very fond Of
flowers. If an elephant gets loose in the
night he is tOlerably sure to make for the
incest fower-garden in the vicinity, and