Philadelphia Evening Ledger - 15 Sept 1916

Philadelphia Evening Ledger - 15 Sept 1916

WAS BOYS' JOY ONCE 

Adam Forepaugh Gave Him to Zoo, Where He Died in 1908 

Bolivar the mammoth elephant whose, stoutainous form was a feast for eyes of young Philadelphians, a decade ago, and who recently has been a main attraction at the Academy of Natural sciences has shown signs of deterioration lately.

The thick skin that had stood Bolivar in many a jungle fight, and could have resisted the leaden bullets of a hunter's gun, is now shrunken and cracked in places. 

David McCadden, taxidermist of the academy was working today In an effort to forestall the ravages of time. Mr. McCadden believes he can patch up old Bolivar's form and make him presentable for several years to come. 

Bolivar was presented to the Academy of natural Sciences following his death in the Zoological Gardens in 1908. Mr. McCadden undertook the work of mounting the immense body in the summer of that year, and completed  in January 1909. 

Before the beast was cut up Mr. McCadden, who had recently introduced a new method in mounting animals, made accurate measurements of Bolivar's body. From these figures he constructed a plaster-of-Paris cast, over which the elephant's skin stretched.  The result was a perfect likeness of Bolivar alive.  

Bolivar has since stood in the main corridor of the academy, facing the main entrance on Race street. He has been subjected to many drafts throughout the changing seasons, and this has been one of the  reasons for the breaking up of the skin. 

MARKS OF SUFFERING

Sections of the right foreleg, the under part of the neck and a large space on the forehead have suffered most. One large hole ten inches square, has opened under the neck. The breaking of the skin on the forehead is due to Bolivar's having rubbed this section of his body against the massive bars at the Zoo, causing a bad sore to develop there.

Bolivar. The name electrified boys and girls fifteen years ago. Bolivar, the largest elephant that was ever in captivity. Everybody wanted to see him. 

He wandered the face of the globe as a feature of the Adam Forepaugh circus.

 Adam Forepaugh bought Bolivar for $10,000 while his circus was playing in Europe. Bolivar came from India. He was widely advertised upon his arrival in this country. He was then about forty years  old.

KILLED TWO KEEPERS 

I night Bolivar became agitated at his keeper and trampled him to death. After In was not used in the ring, but killed another keeper before Mr. Forepaugh decided to dispose of him. in 1888 presented Bolivar to the Zoological Society. 

Bolivar was placed in a big cage in the elephant house. His legs were manacled with heavy chains to prevent his roaming about.  Keeper George Harrison is the only man who could go into the cage.

Bolivar gave no evidence of his feriousness to the hundreds who dally stopped in front of his cage. The sale of peanuts grew with his arrival at the Zoo. 

Finally old age began to get to him and Bolivar became very quiet and morose.  On July 31 he lay down and died. When brought to America Bolivar weighed close to seven tons, but at his death his weight was said to be little more than five tons. 

"I think  I will have the old boy in a presentable condition in a few days declared Mr. McCadden. as he jammed a fistful of soft cement Into Bolivar's mouth, a thin the huge beast would have resented in former years by picking up Mr. McCadden and hurling him half a block. 





.