The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-19
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
H. H. ROBINSON,
PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.
OOnquering am IlIephant.

AFTER the regular performance at For
paugh' Circus and Menagtrie, Tenth and
Callowhtll streets. on Saturday night a
novel and exciting scene was presented to
NUMBER OF persons who were allowed to
remain In the building. The fit of madness
winch has rendered the great elephant Ro-
nleo. now OIL exhibition with the show, to-
tally unmanageable for week past, has
already been noticed in these columns, and
also the attempts of his master. Mr.. Craven,
tepacify the huge beast without resortinR
TO extreme violence. This elephant is the
largest now IN the country, weighing over
i've tons, and standing nearly ten feet high.
Inc enclosure now occupied by Romeo
measures about twenty-eight feet square
When signs of ill-humor first beca1 an
parent the beast was secured by chains SO
that he was kept about midway in the
space. In that position there was no DOS
sibility of the elephant doing further dam
age than to occasionally raise with his head
a girder that sustained several tuns weight,
The influence usually exercised over Ro-
meo by Mr.. Craven Is certainly wonderful
and the ready obedience and sapacity of
the beast has, perhaps, never been surpassed
by any other performing elephant exhib-
tied in the United States.
Inc iirst Dad treatment to which the flri-
Gus Romeo was subjected, was the stoppaUe
OF his daily food. a measure which, how
ever. unpleasant IL might be to the offend
ing beast, was undoubtedly favorably to the
purse of his keeper. For seven DAYS moth
ingwhatever was given the elephant to eat
or drlnk: and he remained upon his feet the
whole time casting his trunk restlessly
about While his Keen eye flashed the fiery
spirit that governed him. No person
Jared venture within his reach without in
creasing his disposition to be violent.
Anything whatever within reach of his
do a
several bricks lying in his way were taken
up and thrown with great force to the ex-
tremlty ofthe building. Mr.. Craven closely
Watched his prisoner during the entire
time. ana when escape was threatened n
rlne was brought into use, and its contents
fired into his head.
During the few days of trouble no less
than Dozen loads were discharged at Ro-
ihco, one of them destroying his right eve.
an accident which greatly distresses Mr..
craven, but Its results is acceptable, as by
other means could the life of the fayorite
little elephant, Juliet, have been saved. Al |
ter every means had been tried to force obc-
dlehce and fililed, Mr.. Craven determined
10 subdue him by throwing him from his
rect anu about lO o'clock on Saturday eve |
hlng the effort was commenced. Tackle I
sufficient to rig a small sized ship was 1
brought into use and mate fast to the chains
bound round the feet of Romeo, and then
to heavy stakes driven in the
ground about thirty yards distant. 1t re-
CURED much trouble to get the animal into
the desired position, and to intimidate Ro-
meo, two ride shots were fired, one enter
ing his trunk and the contents of the other
flashed OFF his side rs if ii had struck upon
a rock.
About fifty men took hold of the ropes
attached to tie elephant, and in a short
Tune his feet were so drawn together that
a tew pulls upon line at the side laid
Romeo fairly upon the ground. The wells
OF the infuriated beast as he was being
conquered were terrific and for few mo-
ments an unearthly chorus was kepu nm by
the numerous other animals. After being
compelled to remain upon his side during
the night Romeo was released and subse-
quentiy went through his usual perform
ance In the ring with readiness and sub
mission The elephant Is now as docile as
ever he was, the only evidence of his late
bad humor being the loss of an eye and
scars with which he is marked