The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-04-09
THE ELEPHANT LOOSE.
A Roaring Lion at Large.
Correspondence Brandon. Miss, ,Repub bllcan.

| Correspondence Brandon. Miss. Republican,
FOREST, MISS. March 26, 1869.
Several days previous immense pos
tiers were pasted on all the walls in
town, announcing that Reynolds Great
Mexican Gymnasium and Meuagerie
would exhibit in Forest on that day
Eearly in the morning oil the roads
leading to town were thronged with
people, of all ages, sexes and colors,
and by ten o'clock the whole town was
alive with visitors awaiting the arrival
of the menagere. AT eleven the fine
brass band announced the arrival of
the show, and by twelve the canvas
was stretched and the cages Of the ami
mails arranged. ,tsts.s ,t,i al
The huge elephant IIercules-the larg-
est ever imported into this country
was chained to stake, and by way Of
caution to those entering the canvas,
Mr.. John Alston, his keeper, stated
that he had for several days manifested
q disposition of insubordination. and
begged that no one would approach
sufficiently near to receive blow from
his trunk. Mr.. Mark Kite, from the
northern part of this county, coming in
after Mr.. Alston's admonition. thought
essly handed him piece of tobacco,
which so enraged him that he struck at
him with such violence as to dislocate
his shoulder, althoughit was glancing
blow. He plunged with such force
that he broke his chain, and although
his keeper used every effort to subdue
him he was entirely uncomfortable, and
he would strike and kick at every OBJ
ject near him. By this time the scene
was beyond description. The vast
crowd few for life. EIe flew at his
keeper and pursued him from under
the canvas. |.. .... ......
The eleven o'clock freight train, be-
ing behind time, and not having any
freight for Forest, and the engineer not
intending to stop. came rushing along
at the rate of twenty miles an hour.--
When it had approached within two
hundred yards he looked up the road
and seemed doubly enraged. He i'm
mediately ran toward it with great
speed and met it with such shock that
he broke one of his tusks and was inn
mediately killed. The engine was de-
tached from the train and thrown from
the track, and Mr.. Wharton, the engin-
eer, having failed to shut off steam, it
unfortunately ran into the canvas and
smashed the lions cage, killing the
lioness and releasing the lion. The lion
finding himself uninjured and at liber-
ty, and being frightene ed by the steam
and whistle of the engine, started ut
full speed down the lIomewood road
roaring terrifically. He had gone but a
short distance when he met Mr.. Geo.
w. Sheppard and gave chase. Mr..
Sheppard finding that he was gaining
on him rapidly and that he would GER.
tainly be overtaken, attempted to climb
sapling. He struck at him with his
paw as he assembled. but fortunately did
no other damage than to tear Off his
coat tail and carry away a part of his
pants.
Mr.. John Smith, of Raleigh, WHO wss
on his way to Forest, riding his fine
pacing horse, with his little son behind
him, met him four miles from here
AS soon as his horse saw him he neigh
ed, when the lion rushed at him, seized
him by the throat and threw him upon
the ground. Mr.. Smith with his little
son escaped to the woods ahd made
their way to Forest on foot.
While he was devouring Mr.. Smtsh's
horse, Mr.. James j. Ritch. who wss on
his way to Forest with load of chick
ems. drove up. As soon as he saw him
he reared OIL MS nlnu 1eet, lasncQ the
ground with his tai! and sprang at him.
Mr.. Ritch eluded him by jumping from
his wagon, when he mounted and be-
gan to tear open the boxes containing
the chickens and turned them out. He
then seemed to loose sight of every
thing in his efforts to catch them.
When the excitement in town abated,
about twenty mounted men, well armed,
started in pursuit with all the dogs be-
longing in town as well as many that
had followed their owners. Ny. Rey-
nolds, the owner of the lion, begged
them not to kill him, and aent several
men with the crowd with Instructions
to capture him if possible, but no doubt
J the citizens will kill him as soon as they
overtake him.
1t is reported that he killed freed
man in Smith county, near Mr.. Thomas
Husbands. and that when last heard
from he was going down Ocoha. The
news that lion is at large spreads like
wild fire, and the citizens are greatly
excited. p.
A Hard Case.