FREAKS OF JUMBO IN AMERICA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3716, 13 June 1883, Page 4

FREAKS OF JUMBO IN AMERICA.

Home interesting particulars are given by Mr W. l>. Tegctuieicr in the Field about the conduct of the well-known elephant Jumbo iv America :- -" One of tho latest accounts I have received is that contained in the Bridgeport fConn., U.S.) livening Fanner of Nov. V<), 1 KB:2—Bridgeport being thu winter headquarters of Barnum's celebrated menagerie. Jumbo took it into his head one night recently that he would like a little more liberty, .so he braced himself up, and placing his head against the side of the building, walked through it as easily a.s if it were mad) of paper. His compartment in the elephant quarters had been specially prepared for his reception on his return from travelling show, it being overlaid with planks, crossed and re-crossed, spiked and bolted together, until a wall nearly a foot thick had been formed ; but Jumbo prized otf the boards with his tusks, which have grown some inches beyond the surface since lie has left. England, and made an opening through which he walked with the greatest ease. His prodigious strength has been abundantly exercised in his new location. He is described as snapping beams 0 in. square wil.li the greatest ease, and it is stated that, to prevent any further excursions on his part, the building has been repaired with stouter planks and logs, which are used as oblique .struts on the outside. The article concludes by the statement that such little freaks, however pleasant to the animal, arc most expensive and troublesome to his owners. The private accounts that have reached us are rather more pronounced. By them I learn that Jumbo not long since was in what his present owners term his "tantrums." in his travelling ear is a compartment in which Scott, who is still his keeper, sleeps at night. On one occasion Jumbo, to use the expression in which the affair was represented to me, ' went for tho compartment,' which was crunched up like a lucifer matchbox, his tusks making indentations in the .side of the car, but fortunately missing Scott's body. As it was necessary that Jumbo should be convinced that he was not master of the situation, his hind feet were hobbled, and, by the aid of a couple of tho other elephants iv the menagerie, he was made to kneel down and receive a most severe drubbing with thick stick.* and elephant goads. At first ho resented this ignominious punishment, but when it became sufliciently severe he trumpeted loudly, which is a token of fear and submission. Since this lesson lie has been behaving with due regard to propriety, being apparently as well aware as his masters that every outbreak will lie followed by a repetition of the same treatment. Those who have any experience in the management of large animals iv a domestic or .'ioiiii-doinestieatcd .state know that, for safety, they must be impressed with the consciousness of the greater power of man. Kindness may be employed to any extent, provided the animal is not allowed to inrigine that he is the nioro powerful. Even the most docile lior.se may he dangerous with a rider whom ho knows to be timid. Punishment, and still more, the fear ot punishment, is absolutely necessary in the management of large and powerful animals. Nevertheless, it is not difficult to imagine- the howl of virtuous indignation hud •huubo received this necessary castigation on this side of the Atlantic, where the utmost punishment permitted by the ro.r jihpuli was the flick of a cart whip, which could only tickle the hide of this huge pachyderm. 1 may mention that the female African elephant Alice has just .suffered the deprivation of the end of her tail, about two inches of which, with its tuft of hair, has dropped off, apparently from deficient circulation — occasioned, possibly, by the severe cold that occurred during the early part of last mouth."