The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-07-16

The Detroit Free Press says: ga
very exciting as well as novel affair
occnrred about six miles down the river
on Monday afternoon, being no less
than a chase Of hipopotam 1t
seems that in the transit Of the circus
now performing here, from Buffalo. to
this city, 1t became necessary, on ac.
count of their excessive weight, to
send the elephant and hipopotamus on
a propeller, and they were accordingly
shipped on the s. D. Caldwell. On
Monday AFTERNOONS, as the steamer was
nearing this port, scene of great ex.
citeme''t occurred, which nearly resul-
ted in the escape Of the huge behemo,h
or hipopotamus, belonging to g. c..
Quick, Esq, and at present 70, ming one
Of the attractions Of 6. F. Bailey's
1nadrnple circus.
As it was impossible to get his i'm
mense cage on board The steamer, that
was sent by land, wqile his Eehemcth.
ship, accompanied by Ali. the Egyp.
tian his captor and keeper, proceeded
by water to Detroit. During the voyage
it was noticed that the animal con,in.
ually looked longingly at the water, as
tho he would have given one Of his eye
teeth (no trife) tor a plunge into the
depths Of the lake and rample its uncx-
plored bottom. No. one supposed,
howe yer, that he would yield to his
amph:bious tastes, and SO no extra
watch was set upon him.
As the steamer neared :he city, and
when about three below the for, and
a. Ali and everybody else were gazing
land ward, crash and then a splash
were heard from the side of the bow
toward the American shore Every
body rushed to the spot. The place
whore the Lipopotamus had been corr
fined was empty. The beast, no longer
ahe to resist the temptation, had burst
his bonds anG plunged into the river.
The owner, who was on board,
looked the picture Of despair. Forty
thousand dollars. to say nothing Of
large amount Of prospective profits, had
Suddenly vanished. As for Ali, he was
nearly frantic. He tore his hair and
prayed to his strange gods. In few
moments, however, the monstrous head
OF the huge beast appeared above the
surface of the water. 4 general shout
arouse, and Ali was with difficulty pre-
vented from jumping overheard in pur
suit OF his companion and beloved pet,
while the boat was lowered, into which
he jumped and rowed toward the beast,
who swan about in al ecstacy OF de-
light.
As the Egyptian commenced calling
him by familiar names, and at TIE sound
Of his voice, the monster stopped,
looked aronnd, and seemed to wait for
the boat to near him, but just as it ap
approached within reaching distance,
the hipopotamus gave 4 plunge, and
once more disappeared, leaving whirl.
pool Of seething water to mark the spot
where he had gone down. Nothing
was seen Of him now for long time,
and they We're about giving him up for
lost, when he suddenly made his ap-
pearance about hundred yards of,
but nearer the shore than at first. Ali
again rowed towards him, calling him
as before, but again the beast lodged
him, and dove to the bottom Of the river
All now made large circle with his
boat, in hopes Of taking him BY sur
prise, as he camo up to breathe; bur-
as II aware Of his intentions, he rose a
long way off, and looked at his master
cunningly, which seemed to say, "No
you don't"
For a third time Ali started in pur-
suit, with resnlt similar to that which
had attended his other efforts. When
he went down the third time Ali paused
evidently nonplnssed, and seemingly
overcome by grief and despair. In a
second, however. he seized the oars and
roved toward the steamer. "Try dc
tog," he shouted, as he came along
side; "gib me do tog.' A large, black
inastiff, which has been trained to sleep
IN the cage Of the Aipopotamus, and
for whom he had been keeping up 4
constant howling from the time his
companion had escaped, was now
looaened, and he instantly plunged into