The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-10-21
The Elephant Fight.

vi the uuUuTeu auu Hily SiepuauIS Po-
sessed by the King of Dude, there was
one with broken tusk, that had been
victor iu a hundred fights. His name
was Malleer, and he was a great favor
ite with the king. His tusk had been
broken off bit by bit in several encouu-
ters; the elephants rushing against each
other with such force as sometimes to
snap of portion or the whole Of a tusk.
Ma!eer had lost his, as have said, grad
ually. He was a formd able black fellow
very terrible when in that excited state
called must. During the visit of the CON.
mander in chief it was determined that
ftting antagonist should be found for
Malleer, and that be should once more
make bis appearance on the stage as a glad
iator. 1t was fortunately the proper sea-
son. Malleer was must and another gi
gantic elephant, also black, and of course
10 a similar state, was elected to be his
antagonist. 3
At signal given by the king, the two
elephants advanced from opposite sides,
each with his mahout on his neck; Nal
leer, with his one tusk, looking By no
means SO formidable as the huge black
antagonist whom he was to fight, and who
was we'll furnished with ivory. The mo-
meut they caugot sight of each other, the
two elephants, as if with an instructive
perception of what was expected of them,
put their trunks aud tails aloft, and shut
fed up to each other with considerable
speed, after their uuwieldly fashion. trum-
peting loudly mutual defiance. This is
the ordinary attitude of attack of the ele-
phant. He puts bis trunk up perpendic-
ularly, 10 order that it may be out of
harms way. His tail is similarly raised
from excitement. His trumpeting con-
sists of series of quick blasts, between
roars and gruntiDg.
Maleer and bis foe rushed at each 9th
er impetuously. The sound of their huge
heads coming into violent collision might
have been heard at distance. The fist
blow struck, both elephants now set them
selves vigorously to push against each
other with all their light. Mouth to
mouth, tusk to tusk. both trunks still ele-
vated in the air perpendicularly, their
feet set firmly in massive soidity upon
the ground, did they push and push, and
shove aud shove, not with one resolute,
long continued effort, but with repeated
short strokes of their uDwieldly FORMS
The heads were not separated for mo-
nent; but the backs were curving slightly
and then becoming straight again liz reg
ular succession, as each shove and push
was administered. The mahouts, seated
on the recks, were not idle the while
They shouted, encoura ging each his own
warrior, with hearty good will.
At length the redoubted Malleer, one
tusked though he was, began to gain the
advantage. The fore leg of his antago-
mist was raised as if uncertainty, ,one could
not tell whether to ad0ance or retreat, as
be stillstoutly showed with all his might.
But it was evident very soon that it was
MOTTO advance, butto retreat tha the leg was
SO raised. Il had hardly been set down
again, when the other was similarly rails
ed and lowered. The mahoat of Malleer
saw the movement, and knew we'll what
it indicated. lie shouted moro frantical.
ly than ever.
At this time they were only few yards
from the banks of the Goomty, little to
the left of our balcony The retreating
elephant gave way step by step, slowly
drawing nearer to the river as be did so.
At length with a sudden leap backwards,
be tore himself from bis antagonist, and
threw his unwieldly form down the bank
into the river. His mahout cung to the
rope over his back, aud was soon seen
safe and sound on his neck, whilst the
elephant swan of to gain the opposite
bank. Malleer was furious at this escape
of bis antagonist. His mahout wanted
him to follow, but he would not take to
the water. He glared round, wild with
fury, to see what he could attack. His
mahout, still urging him. with no gentle
strokes and with wild shouts to pursue,
at length lost his balance in his excite
ment,as Malleer turned savagely about, and
fell to the earth! He fell right before
the infuriated beast whom be had been
rendering more and more wild and IN,
governable' We were not left in doubt
as to his fate for a moment. We had just
time to see that the man had fallen, and
was lying on his back, with his limbs dis
ordered, one leg under him, and the 9th.
er stretched helpless out, whilst both arms
were raised alo:t, when we saw the huge
foot of the elephant placed upon bis chest
and heard the bones cracking. as the
whole body of the man was crushed into
shapeless mass There was hardly
time for a cry; the swayipg of his form
on the elephants neck-his fall-tht
sound caused by his striking the elastic
turf-the foot placed upon him. and the
horrid crushing which followed--all was
the work of an instant or two. But tbi.
did not safe the enraged animal. Still
keeping bis foot on the mans chest, b,
seized one arm with bis trunk and tore i
/ from the body. In another moment it wa
hurting high up in the air, the blood spirit
ing from it as it whirled. 1t was hor
rible sight. The other arm was theI
4 IA 81