"Perhaps the most difficult part of transportation, notwithstanding
all the adventures I have had on land, is the getting the big animals
on board ship. Take elephants for instance. They are placed in barges
and then they are slung up in big slings on to the steamer. This is
very difficult and very anxious work, for very often they are killed
by the breaking of their necks or their legs. And then again, once
they are on board ship, it is very difficult to bring elephants alive
to Europe. They suffer dreadfully from sea-sickness, and cannot eat.
Some of them are put between decks, and some of them have stables
fitted up for them on deck.
"I remember once that Casanova left Africa with a cargo of forty
elephants, thirteen only of which reached Trieste alive, and only
twelve came here to me in Hamburg. On one occasion, in 1881 I think it
was, I was bringing over a large cargo of forty-two ostriches from
the Somali country. We were going through the Red Sea, when suddenly a
violent storm broke upon us. It was pitch dark on deck, but I went
below to look at my birds, and by the dim light of the lantern, and
the flash of lightning that every now and again lit up the whole of
the ship, I saw that the poor creatures were swaying to and fro, and
that they were in the greatest possible discomfort. That night more
than thirty of them broke their legs, and the next day we had to throw
their bodies into the sea, and out of the forty-two I brought only
nine home to Europe. But perhaps one of the most dangerous adventures
that I ever had in transporting wild beasts was in 1871. I was taking
a rhinoceros from the East India Docks to the Zoological Gardens in
London. To do this I had to take it and lead it through the docks on a
flat trolly. At last we got the beast hoisted on a wagon, and fastened
by all four legs. Suddenly an engine drove by. The animal became
hideously frightened, his eyes rolled white, then red. He then planted
his horn under the seat upon which the man who was driving the wagon
was seated. Away went the man, away went the seat, clean over the
three horses. They in their turn became dreadfully frightened, too,
and bolted. I hit the beast as hard as ever I could with a rope. We
managed to tie another rope round his neck and fastened it down, and
at last we got him safely down the Commercial Road, and then settled
in some stables. I had a big box made for him, and at last conveyed
him safely to his destination; but I wouldn't go through that
experience again for a million of money.
"I was once bringing home a full-grown alligator," continued Mr.
Hagenbeck, smiling at the thought of the adventure of which he was
about to tell me, "and I was travelling on a passenger ship. One
morning a most amusing incident occurred, but one which all the same
might have been attended with serious consequences. I had paid my
usual morning visit to my travelling companion, and had seen to his
supply of food and water, and having assured myself that he was quite
comfortable and well looked after, I retired to my cabin to lie down,
the day being very hot. Suddenly I heard a great tramping overhead and
the screaming of women and children. I could not think what was the
matter, so I ran up on deck; as I went I passed a number of people
rushing down the companion way. The male passengers were on the
captain's deck; the sailors were climbing the rigging as fast as they
could. The deck was perfectly clear. In the midst of the empty deck
stood my alligator, the innocent cause of this sudden commotion, with
gently smiling jaws, looking wonderingly on. After a good long time
and much difficulty I got the beast into his own habitation."