[Illustration: “THE TOWERING MONARCH OF HIS MIGHTY RACE,” IN NEW YORK _From a circus pamphlet_] Before Barnum had purchased Jumbo, the elephant was known only to the population of London; after the controversy he was known throughout the British Isles. It was Bailey’s intention, therefore, to take the Greatest Show on Earth to England with Jumbo and give the entire population of the British Isles an opportunity to see the animal. For several years Jumbo was with the Barnum & Bailey show in this country, while preparations were being made for the extensive foreign tour. Exhibited with him was a baby elephant, called “Tom Thumb.” On September 15, 1885, in Ontario, Canada, Jumbo was struck by a freight train and pinned between it and a train of show cars. The freight train was derailed and the engine broken. Jumbo’s skull was fractured, and he suffered internal injuries. He died a few moments later. It was said by the circus publicity men that Jumbo died in a heroic attempt to rescue his favorite, the baby elephant, “Tom Thumb.” [Illustration: BARNUM PORTRAYS JUMBO IN A HEROIC MOOD _From a circus pamphlet_] Jumbo’s death was cabled all over the world, and English newspapers and public mourned his loss. Soon after Jumbo’s death Barnum & Bailey succeeded in buying Alice from the Royal Zoölogical Gardens. She was brought to this country and advertised extensively as “Jumbo’s Widow.” Jumbo’s skeleton was articulated and his skin stuffed. He was thus exhibited at the show by the side of his widow, and the specimens were finally given by Barnum to Tufts College, of which he was one of the founders. That college still uses the head of Jumbo as its emblem. Three days after Jumbo died, Barnum wrote to Harper Brothers, the publishers: “WALDEMERE, BRIDGEPORT, CONN., Sept. 18th, 1885. PRIVATE “GENTLEMEN “Millions of children and adults (myself included) are mourning the death of _Jumbo_. “Would you like to publish for the holidays--the life history and death of Jumbo, with many incidents and anecdotes not heretofore published By P. T. Barnum Profusely Illustrated? The title can of course be changed from the above. Probably numerous cuts now extant can be used. If properly written up, would it not be an interesting Christmas Childrens book--perhaps on _both_ sides of the Atlantic? Truly yours, P. T. BARNUM. “Messrs. Harper Brothers & Co.” There is this reply penciled on the letter, apparently a memorandum from a member of the Harper firm: “If Mr. Barnum would employ some one, accustomed to writing for publication, to prepare the book (retaining Mr. B.’s name on title-page) we think it might be a successful venture and would like to consider the Ms.”[27] This to the author of the _Life of P. T. Barnum Written by Himself_ and _The Humbugs of the World_! Barnum could not receive such a suggestion with equanimity.