The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-05-01
The Capture of "Romeo."
A FEARFUL CONTEST WITH A FERo-
CIoJ'S ELEPHANT,

capture and conquering on Saturday the
2sth ult., of the huge Asiatic elephant
"Romeo," belonging to Adam Fore
paugh's Menagerie, on the farm of Jas.
B. Miller, in Marlborough, small un-
pretending village, twelve miles from
this city, upon whose pre- nises he has {
been quartered during the past winter,
together with the camels, dromedaries,
horses and two other elephants belong
ing to Mr.. Forepaugh's great Zoologi-
cal and Equestrian Combination.
1t will be, no doubt, remembered by
the majority of our readers, that this is
the same elephant that killed his keep
er, Mr.. William p. Williams, last De-
cember not long after going into winter
quarters, the circumstances of which
might not be uninteresting briefly to
narrate in this connection.
Mr.. Williams was in the habit with
other duties and cares, of washing and
scrubbng the elephant every few days
with warm water, the animal, ut the
same time, being chained firmly by se-
curing both fore feet with massive
iron chain strongly fastened to rings,
secured at the bottom of his spacious
stall, which is built of solid masonry,
of great thickness and strength, upon
, which rests the weight Of a ponderous
superstructure. From several circum-
stances that had transpired but few |
days previous, such as the annihilation |
of pet cat; the knocking down of a
, camel which happened to come in the
: way, Mr.. Williams his keeper was adj
| vised to be on his guard but having
great confidence, he took no precaution-
! ary measures, ,and thus it happened that
e while he was in the act of procuring
\ fresh supply of water, with which to
e wash him, his back being turned, the
e elephant struck him powerful blow
d with his trunk, prostrating him upon
n his face, breaking his spinal column
e and rendering him instantly helpless.
= Immediately the elephant caught
IT him with his trunk, drew him beneath
his fore feet, gored him with his tusks.
d knelt upon him with his knees, liter
le ally crushing every bone in his body.
II At this fearful crisis, Mr.. Miller and
n other members of his family, alarmed
ne by the cries of the unfortunate man,
e. came to the rescue, and, by means of
is forks, spears, ETC., succeeded so far in
III divcrting the attention of the inturiated
monster from his victim as to eXtricate
the dying man from his power. Mr.
Williams, it is hardly necessary to add
lis lived but two hours after this sad event
" Being securely chained, he was, o
he course, unable to do any further mis-
an chief, and in this predicament he ha
TIL remained all winter, no person bein
ct able to conquer or subdue him. q
art course, if permitted to remain so all tn
time, he would be harmless enough
an but the travelling season for the menag
er- erie approaches, and his lordship is need
cd somewhere else, and some means
Did therefore, must be devised by which h
it can be subdued and made available 70
i'm the approaching campaign.
ng In this extremity Mr.. Forcpaugh wa
ere obliged to secure the services of his oil
ne. keeper, Mr.. Stuart Craven, who ha
'ry been in charge Of him before he wa
Ter imported to America, and for six yeoi
lie since that event, but who, i'll conso
&c. to travel in Europe, and about eightee
nd months ago set out for the Orient, an
per wishing to combine profit with pleasui
in pursued his journey into the interior {
Africa. Asia and Lower. Egypt, account
'tic lated an extensive assortment Of tn
most rare and curious animals, and ais
ak fthc feathered tribesamong which wei
go of 4 fri zee
H." and Asiatic elephants, camels al
dromedaries etc, ever imported I'M
yer this country all Of which have been +
Gently merged into the mammoth N
,ly, nageric belonging to Adam Forepaug
nd Mr. Craven being an experienced a
Pat, imal tanner, was deemed the most advi
bic person to take charge of the reca
his ture of''Romeo," as he is the only pers'
the who has ever succeeded in cOnqueriI
axe and subduing this, the largest specim'
of an Asiatic elephant on this continel
his 70 this end, Mr.. Craven proceeded
ter Saturday last, assisted by that fearl'
and intrepid animal performer, n
da James Forepaugh, to Hatboro', accol
lme panied also by an army of men wi
lbs, ropes, tackles and chains, to bring Il
bri- monarch of the Oriental jungle to /
launches, who has been Il kind Of t
ing rOr 10 that community ever since
aid unfortunate death Of Mr.. Williams.
he'd Immediately on the arrival of his {
that keeper, although he had been abs'
about eighteen months, the elephi
Fat, recognized him, and became rest
ri Ii,
ora, him with his trunk, with which,
ltter for the chain by which he was stroni
ans, tethered he would have instantly 4
gged hilated him. This was quite uneXp'
rha- ed to his old keeper, but experience
Dule demonstrated that once the eleph
becomes enragcd, he is just AS quicl
,oto. fight his best friend rs those whom
low mas never seen III si'o'', noiiioo
tho,r complete master of the situation,
great apprchensious Neio entertai
her lest becoming still more icrociOus,
.cter, should snap his tampers and max
p the great havoc among the spectators
sub be prepared for this emergency /,
and chains were made ready, and
cS 10 the wisdom and discretion mantle
what by Mr.. Craven. assisted by James
weet- George Forepaugh, both hind fee
result the monster were secured by ch
which the infuriated beast proccC
look to break like so many gossamer '
II the floating in the air. These efforts
needs time and again repeated and rs {
: bufeted. Larger chains and ropes
Il she brought into requisition, which in
turn yielded to the superior sire