The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-11-25
From the NeW York Tribune
A MAD ELEPHANT AT LARGE.
The Freaks of Van Amburgh'S
IIannib aI--EXCiting scenes
and Inc fdentS.

An exciting scene was witnessed In W IL
liamsburg about ten o'clock on Friday
| morning Van Amburgh's Menagerie,
stationed on South Fifth street, between
Sixth and Seventh streets, was the locale
of the occurrence While lad was I'M
loading sawdust from wagon within the
exhibition tent, Old Hannibal, the elephant
broke out into one of his periodical fits of
fury, and making the horse, aimed blow
at him with his trunk. Missing the ani-
NAL the blow fell upon the neck of the
boy, but with greatly diminished force, or
be must have been killed instantly
Again he attacked the horse, and the
frightened animal, after severe hug from
the elephants trunk. darted off, dashing
the vehicle against the centre pole, olsen
gaging himself at the same time, and run
ming into the street Hannibal deliberate
ly tore the wagon to pieces, fiinging the
wheels about like toys. The cages con
tanning the wild beasts next engaged his
attention and from the reckless way in
which he turned over and smashed up the
habitations of the bears, hyenas, wolves,
zebras, and other wild animals, it was prob
able that the whole menagerie would be
let loose in the streets.
The circumstances of the affair appear
to be As follows: The animal is notOri-
Gus for its periodical fits of fury, during
which it is quite unmanageable, and COM
nts most violent attacks upon everything
aud everybody that comes in the way.
The immediate cause Of his outbreak on
Friday appears to have been a sudden dis
| like which he took to the horse, and it
was against that animal that his first at
tack was directed. Taking advantage Of
the absence of his keeper, he rushed at it.
and endeavored to strike it with his trunk.
The horse swerved suddenly, and the blow
although with greatly diminished force,
fell upon boys neck, injuring him severe
iy. The horse, in its fright, darteG off,
and striking the wagon against the centre
| pole of the tent, broke the harness and
escaped to the street. Becoming more
and more excited with rage, he then next
turned the zebra cage upside nown, and
taking it up with his trunk and tusks, tos-
sed it out from beneath the canvass as a
man would an apple BY this time every
attache of the menagerie had made good
his escape, except the keeper of the raving
beast, who was absent at the time. The
cage containing the hyena IN one depart
meut and several wolves in another, was
the next point of attack. This lie tore to
pieces, and scatleie ed them about the prem
ises. letting out the amiable inhabitants,
who ran away with the utmost terror.
The monster then went from one cage
to another, upsetting them in turn, and
smashing them in pieces. Ills keeper
made his appearance about this time and
attempted 10 put in practice the usual de
vices 10 gain the ascendency over the eIe,
plant but his efforts were utterly unavail
ing. Hannibal savagey sailed forth
trumpeting defiance, and dragging after
him the chain with which he was usually
fastened. The keepers followed him down
the street into an open space, not far dis
tant from the menagerie grounds, and Will
the aid of two others, succeeded in getting
him into an excavation made for cellar
lie managed to chase back his pursuers
however and was again followed into {
stone ward near by, where he was a secon,
time impeded in his progress. lie wa:
kept here until the long pixies and hook:
Of \ oung America Hook and Ladder Com
pany were brought upon the ground an
manned by the increasing crowd to b
used in suppressing the crazed Insured
ZIONIST. Thus, attacked from all direction
he was hooked and piked from so many
places that he found it incouvenient, anc
nearly impossible to move. His ears
trunk, sides, back and limbs were studded
with pixies, and grappled and held will
hooks. His attention was then diverted
until his keeper could venture up behnC
him and throw a rope around his legs.
This was done with such CELEBRITY. tina
the rope WAS passed round AMI round again
and secured before the beast became awar'
of what was being done, and he was cap
tured.
The crowd had by this time increase
% thousands, sn4 Aal old Hannibal effart