Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-09
Tremendous Excitement.

In Elephant Loose IA The Streets. On
Friday morning, 4 tremendous excitement
was created in the lower part Of Williams
burg, caused by the elephant belonging "a
Van Amburgh's Menagerie becoming en-
ragged and breaking loose from his keeper
\ man had been employed 10 bring some
brought i'll Il 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
his horse away, but before he could do 50,
the elephant advanced few steps, aud
knocking the man down with blow Of his
trunk. next seized the horse. by means of
his trunk. iniuring him severely. lie next
seized the wagon. throwing it up in the air,
and breaking 1t to pieces. Ills anger was
fully aroused then. and proceeding 10 the
cage Of the prairie wolf, smashed it with his
trunk, releasing him. Next in his way was
the cage OF black bear. This cage Was de-
molished. but the bear was chained up, and
could not escape. The cage Of the zebra
being next in his way, he pushed it through
the tent, and clear through the wall Of Il
small slautv ut the back of the tent. Then
leaving the tent. he got into the street, pur-
sued by his keepers and hundreds Of people,
none Of whom were able 70 cope with the
enragrd elephant lie did not modest pas
ser> hy. but seemed IL have great aversion
IL horses, which h. would pursue Is rapidly
~ he was able. being hobblrd with = chain
connecting his tusks with one Of his fore legs.
lie finally was driven by the crowd into the
stone yard corner of South Front and Tenth
streets. where IL number of wurkmen were
engaged III dressing stone, and had Just
placed upon wooden horses huge stone
weighing about fifteen hundred tons. In at
:. tempting 10 get ont of the stone yard, the
elephant got caught by his chain to this
stone, which checked him. The keepers
gradually approached him with chains to
tastcn his legs but it was not till he had re-
| ceived several severe blows with spears, that
his attention could be diverted so As to rem
der il possible Ia further secure him. Final
7 ". he was thrown down upon his side. where
he lay Tor some time believing and thrashng
about him with his trunk. Application was
made IL hook and ladder companies and ),
who furnished the keepers with long hooks.
One of these was run through one OF his
ears, and twisted round until the poor aui-
mai could not move his head from pain of
the wound. When he was perfectly sub.
ducd. he was heavily bound with chains and
taken back to the meuagerie. lie is almost
covered with wounds received from the hooks
and spears, and il is not deemed safe 10 ex,
hibit him for few days, nor would 1t be-
safe for lis keepers 10 approach within sight
Of him.
Ii j. j very fortunate circumstance that no
person was killed by the elephant, or trampled
Ia death III the confusion "a escape. As IS.
the poor animal is the sufferer. This Is the
largest elephant that has been exhibited in
this part of the country, and Is the same
that few years SINCE caused such havoc by
escaping from his cage mt Harlem. These
fits Of anger, it is said. occur annually, and
the keepers have for some time been expect,
Ing some such demonstration, and kept a
more careful watch Of him.-N. j. Erp.