Charlie Ed

CHILDREN FLOCK TO SEE CHARLIE ED. – Little Sells-Floto Elephant Centre of Attraction of Cranbrook Fall Fair

            In the eyes of the children, at least, Charlie Ed, recaptured Sells-Floto elephant, missing from August 6^th, until the 14^th inst., is the prize exhibit of the live stock showing at the Fall Fair.  What the little clown elephant thinks of again finding himself in captivity after thirty-nine days of freedom is problematical, however.  He seems to have thrived on native grasses and leaves in his weeks of roaming the jungles of Canada.  He may again be enjoying the half-forgotten flavor of peanuts and other circus dainties, with only an occasional thought of the wooded kingdom over which he reigned supreme for weeks.  Perhaps he is glad that he is warmly housed and out of the cold and wet of the Kootenay hillsides.  Or it may be that his taste of jungle life has brought back to him longing memories of his native India.

            Certain it is, Charlie Ed was in no wise minded to leave the woods when trailed down by his keepers and their Indian assistants.  He put up a fight.  Charlie “Frontdoor” Morgan and Spot Griffin have testified to Charlie Ed’s pugnaciousness and are carrying bruises to support their evidence.  The little elephant promptly knocked his keepers down when they approached him to fetter his feet.  His eyes blazed with the light of battle.  But the men had had experience in their chase of the ill-fated Myrtle.  They took no further chances.  And the Indians who had guided them to Charlie Ed’s hideout were well versed in the ways of wild things.  The Indians constructed a snare in a jiffy.  Getting directly in front of the little elephant, they dared him to come on.

            Charlie Ed came on the run.  His trunk was upraised to strike.  Fair into the waiting noose he ran.  Two stout and springy tamarack saplings to which the rope was attached bent to the elephant’s mad rush.  But just so far.  Green growing wood has a deal of resiliency.  Charlie Ed was jerked back: the cord about his neck tightened as he plunged and threshed about.  Time and again he was thrown back on his haunches by the spring of the trees.  The hard cord noose bit deeper into his neck, choking him down.  Poor little Charlie Ed!  His relentless pursuers had beaten him at last.

            Like a good sport, however, he accepted his fate philosophically.  He, knowing the uselessness of continuing the battle, submitted to having his feet chained; gradually took food from the hands of his former friends.  Yesterday he slowly paced into town with a keeper on either side of him, accepting the journey from Smith Lake as part of the day’s work.  Now he is the hero of the children and the prize feature of the Cranbrook Agricultural Fall Fair.  He doesn’t know it yet, but he has won for himself a new name.  Henceforth Charlie Ed, named for the son of Mr. Ballard of the American Circus Corporation, will be known as Cranbrook Ed, the prize clown elephant of the big Sells-Floto shows.  A week hence he will be on his way to join the circus in Santa Rosa, California.

            As for Charlie Ed’s late companion, Myrtle, her body is likely to soon become the prey of bears.  Five men testify to having seen three grizzlies within a hundred and fifty yards from where Myrtle’s carcass is lying, Sunday.  The men, A.J. Ironsides, Mr. Clifford, a U.S. newspaper man, Campbell J. Lewis of the Courier, Spot Griffin and Billy Gordon, arrived just in time to save Myrtle’s head and scalp.  Just what will be done with the huge head and forefoot the abovenamed spent the best part of a day preparing for the taxidermist, is problematical.  The University of Alberta was the first to make a bid for the relics to finally balk at the cost of transportation.  Suggestions are in order.  It has been urged that the Canadian Pacific Railway company should take over the trophies.  At the present time the matter remains in abeyance.  But in the opinion of many good citizens of Cranbrook Myrtle’s head should be preserved.