Democratic banner., 1848-01-17

80
I%tensive nenagerie, exhibiting in Pbilsdel-
Iphia, turned on his keeper on Wednesday
last. We find the following particulars in
the Philadelphia papers: ,ftsyOh.
AS his keeper, VIM. Kelly, was prog
ing him for the afternoon performances, and
in consequence of being struck, he seized
Mr.. K. with his trunk and raising him into
the air dashed him twice to the ground with
the utmost violence, breaking his right leg
and thigh in a most shocking manner, and
causing many other vefy serious injuries
The peculiar cry of the enraged animal, a.,
he seized Mr.. Kelly, warned those on the
other part ofthe building of what was 90
ing OIL, an rushing to the quarter where
the elephant was kept, they succeeded in
Isnatching the wounded man out of the way
as be was about being seized a third time,
The elephant then commenced a regular
demolition OF everything within his reach,
tearing a number Of cages to stnms and
|hurling their fragments in every direction
At this time the utmost terror and excite,
ment prevailed. The furious animal, on
first coming from his quarters, proceeded
round the room as if in search of some one,
and then returning seized with his trunk a.
large cage, containing two hyenas, a wolf,
a jackall, and some twenty monkeys, car
ried it into the room, and, after wbirlipg IL
a moment in the air, dashed it into a thou
sand fragments upon the floor, scattering
the animals and killing some of the smaller
ones. Some ran away and hid themselves,
others terror stricken and furious,
ran about the room bowling hideously.-
Two elephant dogs were then procured and
into the ring. These dogs are used
in India to hunt the elephant, and are there
to avoid hi. feet and trunk while
actively fly about, attacking him in
the most vulnerable parts, and holding him
until he can be secured. But on this occa-,
sion they were struck by the elephant and
so MANNED as to be entirely useless. They
were accordingly removed, and prepara-
tons made for shooting the animal, by or
der of Mayor Swift, who, having been sent
shortly after the accident to the keeper,
proceeded to the scene with a
large body Of police. A great crowd had
by this time assembled around the doors,
both on Walnut street and George, and the
large police force was hardly sufficient to
keep back the crowd, who, despite the dan.
ger, seemed anxious to rush in and witness
the terrible scene of havoc. .,r
In the meantime the elephant was doing
great damage to all the fixtures of the es-
within his reach, tearing down
demolishing the arena, and shiver-
ing everything like woodwork to atoms
Herr Driesbach used every effort to intimi-
date and subdue the animal by his we'll
voice, but in vain. A graphing
hook, with a strong rope attached, was
thrown into the ring, with the view of catch
it in the animals hide, the thickness of
which, however, proved impervious to the
Thirty or forty muskets had also
eeen procured, and these were loaded and
kept in rediness for use in the event of the
animals escaping.
At length plan was suggested, which
successful. A strong rope was tied
in a running moose in such a position that
the elephant, in running at those who pla-
ced it in its position, must tread in the
moose. This he did, and Immediately the
persons who had hold of the rope pulled,
and succeeded in catching him by one Of
the fore legs, when a strong force was at
once mustered, and efforts made to pull him
to the recess at the south west corner of
the building. But the animal, now more
furious than ever, ran towards the boxes
which decend from the front gallery to the
arena, and endeavoring to ascend, crushed
the steps, SC. to atoms with his immense
tearing up the benches on either
side of him, hurting the pieces at the same
in every direction, and leaving the
place a perfect wreck. Finding that it
would not sustain his weight, he retreated
into the arena, where, after some trouble, a
of large hooks attached to ropes
were very adroilty fastened into his ears,
and he was then hauled up into the recess
before mentioned, where, by the self-pos-
session and courage of Herr Driesbach, he
completely subdued.
Two six -pounders were placed, one in
front and the other at the back of the me-
nagerie, with view to shoot the animal
he attemptt to make his exit at either
point.
Ouo,o,,,uv The Rurlinuton Eree PresS