The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-12-15
Taking an Elephant.

The war elephant Romeo belong
ing to Forepaugh's Menagerie, and
better known among shOwmen as
Old Canada" has been celebrated
tor many years as being the most vi
cious, vindictive and dangerous ele-
plant in the country. He has killed
at different periods; three of his keep
ers, and his frequently created
dire CONSERVATION, besides damaging
property to a considerable value, in
his surly moods. 1t will he remem
bered that two years ago this winter
he killed his keeper, Williams at
Hatboro, Pennsylvania, and remained
in a frenzied condition nearly the en-
tire winter, before he could be subject
ed. Since then he has caused but
little trouble, until Monday last,
when he made his quarters, near Con
nersville. Indiana, the scene of con-
siderable disquietude and no little
danger. A day or two previous the
female elephant 'Lalla Rookh,' which
Mr.. Forepaugh had recently purchas-
ed at the Sherrf's sale of DIR. Thayer's
Circus in this city, was placed in the
same building with Romeo, but was
confined some distance apart.
During the night she succeeded in
drawing the stake to which she had
been fettered and in the early hours
of the morning. when Mr.. George
For, paugh, komeo's keeper, entered
the building to look after his charge,
he founu the two elephants standing
together. and ltomeo evidently much
delighted with his new companion
But NJ. Forepaugh thought it pru-
dent to mar this new born pleasure
by returning the female to her prope"
place.
This was instantly resented by Ro-
meo by Selling the keeper with his
trunk and throwing him violently
against the wall.
More alarmed than injured, Mr..
Forepaugh fed from the building,
and mounting his horse sped to the
village for assistance, The necessa-
ry aid was quickly summoned. and a
little army OF showmen and villagers
returned to the Fair grounds, where
the elephant a confined.
They found him in a state of the
gr~eate>t fury, and their first reception
was a large piece Of timber which Ro-
meo had torn from the ratters above
him, and which he hurled at them
with tolerable aim and direction, but
which, fortunately, struck nobody.
He next seized a coach dog. which
for two years, had been his constant
companion, and for which he had al
ways evinced the warmest attach.
ment, and dashed him, l~iteless, on the
ground.
Finding his rage so terrible and his
mood so revengefnl, it was determin
ed t subject him by hunger, If posi-
BILE and up to Friday last he had not
received a particle of food or water.
but which treatment had not the slight
est effect in ~appeasing his fury.
1t was then determined to stake
him." 49, .5<- 4
1t becomes necessary to explain
this term to the general reader.
Whenever it becomes ~expedient,
from death, to furnish an elephant
with a new keeper, or an old N is
obliged to bring him under subsection,
they stake him." as it is called in
showman's parlance. This is done
by combining him beyond the power
OF resist .nce, and then beating him
until he trumpets forth his subsection,
and yields submission to his tormen-
tors.
In this instance guy stakes were
driven in the ground, a distance of
about one hundred feet both in front
and rear of the elephant, and to these
ropes were securely fastened, running
through falls and blocks, and which,
by very adroit management, were at
tached to the letters which encom-
passed and bound his legs
To accomplish this successfully i
was necessary for N of the keepers
to stand in front of him with a gun
hea iy oaded with bird shot, and
Whenever lie offered to strike at those
who were fastening the ropes to his
letters, a charge was fired into his
causing him to roar with rage
and pain, but to desist from offensive
demonstrations. When every'hingl
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