I am informed by the best living authority that the first elephant
brought to this country was imported by Hackaliah Bailey, an uncle of
George F. Bailey, the retired circus manager. It was exhibited in barns
in the eastern country and was considered a great curiosity and
sufficient in itself to constitute a whole show and satisfy the people.
It traveled altogether at night--principally that the country people
should not get a free glimpse of the wonderful animal, and also
because, in Connecticut, there was a law prohibiting the driving of
elephants through that State during the daytime without a license, the
neglect to obtain which entailed a fine of $100, half of that going to
the informer and half to the State. The law was passed in 1828, and, so
far as I know, has never been repealed. This piece of information will
doubtless astonish a good many showmen.
At some place in Rhode Island this elephant was fatally shot by some
malicious person, and no one at the present day seems able to explain
the wanton outrage. It may be that it was done out of curiosity, to see
whether a bullet would penetrate the skin, but I think it is more
likely to have been the spite of some countryman who was disappointed
at not being able to obtain a free glimpse of the animal. I am
encouraged in this opinion because it is a matter of record that the
farmers would gather on the road over which the elephant was to pass at
night and build huge stacks of faggots, straw and brushwood which they
would ignite on the approach of the beast in order to secure a distinct
view of the wonder; but the showmen would blanket a horse and send him
ahead, shouting "Mile up! Mile up!" when approaching a party of
nocturnal spectators. This command has been used in handling elephants
as long as these creatures have served the white race. On hearing this
call the farmers would light their bonfires only to discover, on the
approach of the draped horse, that they had been fooled. And bitter
would be their disappointment when, after the last flickering ember of
their fire had died out, the huge object of their curiosity would pass
unseen in the darkness. At the death of this elephant Hackaliah Bailey
went into the hotel business at Somers, N.Y., and erected, outside of
his tavern, the cast of an elephant in bronze, mounted on a stone
pedestal more than twelve feet in height. The elephant monument may to
this day be seen in perfect condition, although placed there nearly
seventy years ago. The first drove of elephants seen in this country
were brought from Ceylon to America by Mr. S. B. Howes and P. T. Barnum
in 1850. The exhibition was in charge of George Nutter, and the
expedition was about six months en voyage. After losing one or two on
the way they finally landed in New York, about 1850, with ten
elephants, and they proved a very great attraction.