Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-06-21
Proceedings of an Elephant.

The Providence Journal gives the follow
inc details of spree INDUCED in by an Ell
ephant:
The large elephant attached to the Broad
wav menagerie got loose from his keeper
on the way from Pawtucket to Fall River,
early Yesterday morning. Before starting,
his keeper made him lift the hinder part of
wagon, loaded with $500 pounds, for the
purpose of getting it into line It's suppo-
sed that this, although not unusual might
have suggested to him the mode of attack
which he adopted afterwards. When about
seven miles from Pawtucket, he got free
from the control of his keeper. and meeting
a horse and wagon, belonging to MIR. Staf-
ford Short he thrust his tusk into the horse,
and lifted horse, wagon and rider into the
air. He mangled the horse terribly and
carried him about fifty feet, and threw the
dead BODY into pond. The wagon was
broken to pieces, and Mr.. Short consldera-
bly hurt. The elephant broke one of his
enormous tusks in this encounter. "A mile
further the elephant, now growa more fu'
rous, attacked in the same manner, horse
and wagon. with Mr.. Thos. w. Peck and
his son. He broke the wagon and wound
ed the horse, which ran away. Mr.. Peck
was pretty badly hurt in the hip.
While the keepers were engaged IN Sc
curing the smaller elephant, who had not,
however, manifested any signs OF insubor-
dina,ion, the larger one got oft from them,
and went OH through Barneyville, when
Mr.. Mason Barney and another man, mount.
ed their horses and kept on his track as
ne ar to him as was prudent giving warn,
ing of the danger to the passengers whom
they met on the way. The elephant would
occasionally turn to look at them, but did
not attempt to molest them.
The next man in the path was MIR. Pearce
who was riding with his little son in one
horse wagon. He was coming towards the
elephant, and being warned by Mr.. Bar
ney, turned round and put his horseto hl'
speed but the elephant overlook him, ant
seizing the wagon, threw it into the air
dashing il to pieces, and breaking the col
lar.bone and arm of Mr.. Pearce. The
horse, disengaged from the wagon, escaped
with the fore wheels, and the elephant gave
chase for eight miles, but did not catch him
The elephant came back from his unsuc
cessful pursuit, and took up his march AGAR
on the main road, where he next encoun
tered Mr.. Jabez Eddy, with horse ane
wagon. He threw up the whole establish
ment in the same way as before, smashed
the wagon, killed the horse and wounded
Mr.. Eddy. He threw the horse twenty
feet over fence into the adjoining lot, ther
broke down the fence, went over and pick
ed up the dead horse, and deposited him II
the road where he had first met him.
He killed one other horse and pursued
another who fled to barn. The elePban
followed, but at the door was met by iierc'
bull dog, which bit his leg and drove hin
off.
Once on the route, the keeper, being a
head of him, saw him plunge over wal
and make for house. The keeper got IN
to the house first, hurried the frightened
people within to the upper story, and pro
viding himself with an axe, succeeded II
driving off the furious beast.
The elephant finally exhausted hi
strength, and laid himself down IN the bush
es, about two miles from Slade's Ferry
Here he was secured with chains and car
ried over the ferry TO Fall River. A par
of the time he ran a! the rate of mile IL
three minutes