The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-24

Ineet MI tue consequences that may
arise from that act.
A MAD ELEPHANT AT LARGE.
FREAKS OF VAN AMBURGH'sHANNlBAI---
EXCITING SCENES AND IScIDEKTs.
An exciting scene was witnessed in
Williamsburg, N. u, about 10 o'clock
on Friday morning Van Amburgh's
Menagerie, stationed on South Fifth
street, between Sixth and Seventh
streets, was the locale Of the occur-
renee. While q lad was unloading
sawdust from d wagon within the ex-
hibition tent, Old Hannibal, The ele-
tphant, broke out into one Of his peri
odical fits Of fury, and, making to-
wards the horse, aimed blow at him
with his trunk. Missing the animal,
the blow fell upon the neck Of the boy,
but with greatly diminished force, 81 lie
must have been killed Instantly. A gain
| he attacked the horse, and the frightened
animal, after severe hug from the.
elephants trunk, darted off, dashing
the vehicle against the center pole,
disengaging himself at the same time,
and running into the street. Hannibal
deliberately tore the wagon to pieces,
finging the wheels about like, toys.
The cages containing 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 probable
that the whole inanagerie would soon
be let loose in the street. y I. 1: /. iz@s
l The circumstances Of the affair ap-
pear to be as follows; The animal is
notorious for its periodical fits Of fury,
during which it is quite unrnanageable,
and commits most violent attacks upon
everything and everybody that conlesIn
its way. The Immediate cause of his
outbreak on Friday, appears to have
been sudden dislike which he took to
the horse, and twas against that ami
NAL that his first attack was directed.
Taking advantage Of the absence Of
his keeper, he rushed at il, and en-
Edeavorcd to strike it with his trunk.
The horse sYeryed suddenly, and the
blow, although with greatly diminished
force, fell upon the boys neck, injuring
him severely. The horse, in its fright,
darted of, and, striking the wagon
against the center pole of the tent
broke the harness, and escaped to the
street. Becoming more and mere ex-4
cited with rage, he then next turned the
zebra cage upside down, and, taking il
lnp with his trunk and tusks, tossed it
out from beneath the canvas as a man
would an apple. By. this time every
attachee of the managerie had made
good his escape, except the keeper Of
the raying beast, who was absent at the
time. The cage containing the hyena'
in one compartment and several wolves
in another, was the next point of attack.
This he tore to pieces, and scattered
them about the premises, letting ont
the amiable inhabitants, who ran away
with the utmost terror. ": Z. 4: r. .. HI
/ The monster then went from one
cageto another, upsetting them in turn,
and smashing them in pieces. His
keeper made his appearance about this
time, and attempted to put in practice
his usual devices to gain the ascenden-
cy over the elephant, but his efforts
were utterly unayailing. Hannibal
savagely sailed forth into the street
trumpeting defiance, and dragging
after him the chain with which be was
usually fastened. The keepers fol-
lowed him down the street into an open
space, not far distant from the menag-
erie grounds, and,with the aid Of one or
two others, succeeded in getting him
into an excavation made for cellar.
He managed to chase back his pur-
suers, however, and was again followed
into q stone yard near by, where he
was o second time impeded in his pro-
gress: He was kept here until the |
long pixies and hooks Of Young Ameri-
ca Hook and Ladder Company were
brought upon the ground; and manned
BY the increasing crowd to be used in
Esuppressing the crazed insurrectionist.
Thus, attacked from all directions, he
was hooked and piked in SO many
places that he found it inconvenient,
and nearly impossible to move. His
ears, trunk, sides, back and limbs were