Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-19
Conquerlng an Elephnnt.

lfrOm tDe Inllduelpnlh hRe,
After the regular performance at For
paugh's Circus and Menagerie, Tenth aud
CallOwhill streets, on Saturday night, a
novel and exciting scene was presented to
a number persons who were allowed to re-
main in the building. The fit of madness
which has rendered the great elephant
Romeo, now on exhibition with the show,
totally unmanageable for week past, has
already been noticed in these columns, and
also the attempts of his master, Mr.. Craven,
to pacify the huge beast without resorting
to extreme violence. This elephant is the
largest now in the country, weighing over
five tons. and standing nearly 10 feet high.
The inclosure now occupied by Romeo
measures about twenty-eight feet square.
When signs of illhumOr first became appar-
ent the beast was secured by chains so That
he was kept about midway in the space
In that position there was no possibility of
the elephant doing further damage than to
occasionally raise with his head a girder
that sustained several tons weight. The
influence usually exercised over Romeo by
Mr.. Craven is certainly wonderful. and the
ready obedience and sagacity Of the beast
has, perhaps, never been surpas ed by any
other performing elephant exhibited in
the United States.
furious Romeo was subjected, was the stop
page of his daily food, measure which.
however unpleasant it might be to the of
tending beast, was undoubtedly favorable
to the purse of his keeper. For seven days
nothing whatever was given the elephant
to eat or drink, and he remained upon bis
feet tine whole time casting his trunk rest
| lessly about, while his keen eye flashed the
| fiery spirit that governed him. No person
dared venture within his reach without in
creasing his disposition to be violent.
Anything whatever within reach of hi;
| trunk was made weapon OF offense, anC
several bricks lying in his way were taker
up and thrown with great force to the ex-
tremity of the building. Mr.. Craven close
ly watched his prisoner during the entire
| time, and when escape was threatened s
| rifle was brought into use, and its contents
fired into his head. During the few day!
of trouble no less than dozen loads were
discharged at Romeo, one of them destroy
ing his right eye, an accident which greatly
distresses Mr.. Craven, but its results are ac'
ceptable, as by no other means could thu
life of the favorite little elephant, Juliet
| have been saved. After every means haC
been tried to force obedience and failed, Mr.
| Craven determined to subdue him By
throwing him from his feet, and about II
o'clock on Saturday evening the effort wa
commenced. Tackle sufficient to rig a small
sized ship was brought into use and made
fast to the chains bound round the feet u
Romeo, and then attached to heavy stakes
driven in the ground about thirty yard
distant. 1t required much trouble to ge
the animal into the desired position, and t.
intimidate Romeo, two rifle shots were
fired, one entering his trunk, and the con
tents of the other flashed off his side as /
it had struck upon rock. About fifty
men took hold of the ropes attached to the
elephant, and in short time his feet were
so drawn together that few pulls upon s
line at the side laid Romeo fairly upon thu
ground. The yells of the infuriated beas
as he was being conquered were terrific ant
Tor few moments an unearthly chorus wa.
kept up by the numerous other animals
After being compelled to remain upon hi,
side during the night, Romeo was released
and subsequently, went through his usua
performance in the ring with readiness anC
submission. The elephant is now as docilt
as ever he was, the only evidence of his latt
bad humor being the loss of an eye ant
scars with which he is marked. a