Year: 1865

For some since / was in the United
States Army and was all through the
Mexican war; but when it was over,
our regiment was ordered down into
the Indian territory, so wished to
leave. AT Jefferson City ] fell in with
Pelby's Menagerie. Tom Pelby, the
owner, was an old friend of mine, and
when he found that | was out of busi-
ness, he asked me to 90 with him. He
know that L ,,es not only an experienc-
ed horseman, but that was something
of horse doctor, and the wages he
offered tempted me to join him. His
menagerie 'gas good one, his collec-
ton of Wild animals being quite extern
sive, and the specimens better than the
average of those usually on exhibition.
He had come from st. Louis, and
meant to reach the Mississippi again
by the great Steelville and Pennington
Highway. During the first week of
my engagement / took charge of four
performing horses, when on the road,
riding one and leading the others. At
Steelville we remained three days, and
when we got ready to move from that
place | was called to new position.-
Jack Gravey the man who had formely
had charge of the performing horses,
had been laid up bya sprained shoul-
der; but he had recovered, and when
we left Steelville he was able to take
his post again. was placed in charge
of the caravan, or cage, containing the
Bengal tiger.


From Steelville to Caledonia we
stopped three times, taking six days in
the passage. l not only drove the
team which took the tiger over the
road, but was very soon called To pur-
chase food for the animals. | had
some experience in trading in that Sec
ton of country, and Pelby fancied that
/ could buy to better advantage than
the former caterer had done. On the
fourth day from Caledonia we stopped
at a small set lom mt where arrange
mcnts had been made for an exhibition.
We pitched our tent at the crossroads,
and we had full house. That night
Mr.. Pelby informed me that he had
delivered out the last of his meat, and
he should want more in tile morning.
1 knew that the provision was gone,
and had already been looking around
for fresh supply.


You must understand that this settle
ment was not much of village. "A
store, smiths shop, and two or three
mean dwellings, were all tie buildings
in the place; but the surrounding
country was fertile and well settled,
and people flocked into our show far
and near. went to the man who
kept the store, and he promised that
lac would have an OK ready for ME In
the morning. Morning came, but no
OK. The man declared that he could
not find one; but he said that we should
be able to obtain meat at the cross
road, which was only ten miles distant.
Pelby was quite uneasy. The animals
had been fed very lightly on the pre-
vious day and, he feared that they
would became restive if they went
much longer hungry.


We started at eight o'clock in the
morning, and at eleven we reached the
settlement where we had been informed
that meat could be obtained; but not a
scrap could we find, There was not
an OK in the place, and only two cows.
But we were assured that few miles
further on we should find what we
wanted. So on we went; the afternoon
crept half away without bringing us in
sight ofany living thing which we could
kill.


The day was very warm one, and
the matches upon the tops of the cages
were open to give good circulation
of air for the animals. My tiger was
uneasy enough. He growlcd, and
scratched at his bars, and ever and
anon he leaped against the side of his
narrow house with force that shook
me in my seat. At brook where we
stopped to water our horses spoke
with Mr.. Pclby about the tiger. l


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