AN ELEPHANT SUPPRESSINGA MUTINY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 14 November 1868, Page 6

AN ELEPHANT SUPPRESSINGA MUTINY.

Sometime ago, a very fine specimen ..of tho Asiatic elephant (Elephas Indicus) was safely lajided at Southampton/" and purchased by Mr. A. Fairgrieve, the acting -proprietor of the Queen's Menagerie (Wombwell's Royal No. 1). The animal is an exceedingly fine one, 'standing over six feet in height, with splendid tusks. It is of the male sex, and between three and four years of age. It was shipped at Bombay, and was under the charge of a Sumatrian named Ramee Jhandeeggar (familiarly known on board by the term ' Ramy"), to whom the elephant was particularly attached, and who had brought the bu-je brute under perfect subjection. During the last few days after the ship had cleared the land everything went on perfectly satisfactorily, but, unfortunately, heavy weather coming on, a spirit of insubordination was displayed by several of the crew. The would-be mutineers assembled together one evening, near the wheel-house on the main deck, close to where the elephant was chained, and hold council as to their future proceedings. The keeper, Rimy, lyiu? at the side of the animal, feigned sleep, though he paid attention to what the disiffected spirits were saying. Ho heard the whole details of a most diabolical plot to murder the captain, and a greater portion of the crew and passengers and he ascertained that he (Ramy) was one of the selected ones who were thus appointed to be ruthlessly massacred. The onslaught was* to be made wben the Avatch was changed' that night. No time was to be lost in warning the captain of the dan-jerj but it was ultjrly impossible for Rimy to proceed to the state cabin without incurrinu; the greatest possible risk,. inasmuch as he would have been compelled to pas 3 through tie midst of the plotting rascals, and fioy would certainly not have scrupled in effectually silencing on the spot one whom they had . themselves selected for slaughter. The wily keeper, however, took a wiser course; and, as it eventually turned out a very serviceable one. Noiselessly unfastening the chain waieii bound the elephant's fore legs, Ramy set t\e animal at liberty, and, sprin'rinr to his feet in an instant, he bounded iato t'aemidsfcof tie mutineer?, followed by the elephant. \ Giving a sisjnal to fie intelligent brute, ife laid about it ri'jjhfc and left with its trunk, and the astonished sailors were quickly prostrated on the deck, wounded .-and bleeding, and ( shouting loudly for mercy. The captain, hearing the disturbance, was soon on the spot, and bavin? been made acquaiated with the facts of the caso, caused the matine^rs to bo placed in 'iron-*, to be dealt with at the first port at which they touched. The wounda caused by the animals trunk were somewhat fearful. Tn addition to the fact detailed above, the elephant gave mmy proofs on the voyage of his intelligence and sagacity. On one occasion, during a heavy gale of wind, he saved a man from a watery grave by seiz'nw him by his jacket just a3 he was slipping from off the bulwarks ; anl on another he prevented the first mate of the vessel from bern:? severely bitten by a ferocious mastiff belon^ine; to pns of the ptussen^ers. The brute wa3 flying at the throat of the man, w^ien' his spring was interrupted by the' elephant, w'nch, taking firm bold of the dog with his trunk, hurled him overt t^e side of tie ship info the ocean. Maiiy 'other instances of the animal's sa^city rni^ht be recorded, but what wb' have named are quite sufficient to awaken a great curiosity to witness the hero of so many adventure?. — Bristol Times.