Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1859-11-18
GREAT EXCITEMENT

ELEPHANT LOOSE IN THE SrREEr.-W3l,
l'aasbGrgA, Nov.s7.-Friday morning last, q
tremendous excitement was created in the
lower part of Willlamsburgh, caused BY the
elephant belonging to Van Amburgh's me-
nagerie becoming enraged aud breaking loose
from his keeper. A man had been employed
to bring some shavings to the menagerie,
which were brought in a wagon. The man
drove into the tent, and while unloading his
wagon the elephant was observed to grow
restless at the sight of the horse which had
white blanket on. The man was advised
to take bis horse away, but before he could
DO SO the elephant advanced few steps and
knocked the man down with blow of his
trunk, next seized the horse by means of his
trunk and injured him seriously. He next
seized the wagon, throwing it up into the
air and breaking it to pieces. His anger was
fully aroused then, and proceeding to the
cage OF the prairie wolf smashed it with bis
trunk, releasing him. NEXT Ia his mad way
was the cage of black bear. This cage
was demolished but the bear was chained IN
and could not escape. The cage of the re.
bra being next in his way, he pushed through
the tent and clear through the wall of q
small shanty at the back of the tent. Then
leaving the tent he got into the street pursr,-
cd by his keeper and hundreds of people,
none of whom were able to cope with the
enraged elephant. He did not modest pass.
ers by, but seemed to have the greatest aver.
sion to horses, which he would pursue as rap.
idly as he was able, being hoppled with
chain connecting his tusks with one of his
forelegs. He was finally driven by the crowd
into the stone yard, corner Of South Fourth
and 'Sevents streets. Here a number Of
workmen were engaged in dressing stone,
and had placed upon wooden horses hinge
stone weighing about fifteen hundred tons,
In attempting to get ont of the stone yard
the elephant got caught by his to this stone
which checked him. The keepers gradually
approached him with chains to fasten his
legs, but twas not till he had received sew.
cral severe blows with spears that his atten.
ton could be diverted SO as to render it pos
sible to further secure him. Finally he was
thrown down on his side, where be lay for
some time believing and thrashng about
him with his trunk. Application was made
to Hook and Ladder Companies Nos. and
3, who furnished the keepers with large hooks
One Of these was run through one of his ears
and twisted around until the poor animal
could not move his head from pain of the
wound When be was perfectly subdued, hs
was heavilybound with chains, and taken back
to the menugerie. He is almost covered with
wounds received from the hooks and spears, |
and it is not deemed safe to exhibit him fof /
few days, nor would it be safe for his keep
ers to approach within sight of him: 1t is q
very fortunate circumstance that no person
was killed by the elephant Or trampled to
death in the confusion Of escape, as this poor
animal is the greater sgtfara. This is the
this part of the country, and IS tSs 80 ~
that few years since caused such havoc =
escaping from bis cage at Harlem. The
fits of anger, it is said, occur annually.
the keepers have for some time been expe,
ing some such demonstration, and kept
more careful watch oyer him.