The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-22
interesting Process of ssTaking~ a surl
L % isEeq 5isSF Elephant, ~ asd3 sT9fl


The war elephant 'Romeo,n Belonging tt
forepaugh's menagerie, and better know
among showmen as "Old Canada, :" has beef
celebrated for years as being the most vi
clous, vindictive, and dangerous elephant il
the country. He has killed, at different ne
RODS, three of his keepers, and has frequent
ly created the most dire CONSERVATION. be
sides damaging property to u considerable
value, in his suriy moods. 1t will be re
membered that two years ago, this winter
he killed his keeper, Williams, at Hatboro
PENNSYLVANIA, and remained in frenzied
condition nearly the entire winter before bt
could be subjugated. ''''o' a'i'.''l ''s'
Since then he has caused but little trou.
bic, until Monday last, when he made hi,
quarters, near Connorsville, Indiana, the
scene OF considerable disquietude and nc
little danger. A day or two previous the
female elephant ''Lalla Rookh," which Mr.
Forepaugh had recently purchased at the
sheritf's sale of DIR. Thayer's circus. in this
city. was placed in the same building with
Romeo, but was confined some distance
apart 4aldl 1as7 f 75oid''f'
During the night she succeeded in draw
ing the stake to which she had been fetter.
ed, and in the early hours of the morning,
when Mr.. George Forepaugh, Romeo's keep,
er, enter the building to look after his
charge, he found the two elephants standing
together, and Romeo-ev evidently much de-
lighted with his new companion. But Mr..
Forepaugh thought it prudent to mar this
newborn pleasure by returning the female
TO her proper place. fE r1
This was resented by Romeo by seizing
his keeper with his trunk and THROWN .
him violently from him against the wall
More alarmed than injured, Mr.. Forepaugh
fed from the building, and mounting his
horse sped to the village to get some assis-
tance. ''''7. -'-
The necessary aid was quickly Summoned.
and little army of showmen and villagers
returned to the fair grounds, where the ele
phant was confined They found him in a
state of the greatest fury, and their first re-
ception was large piece of timber which
Romeo had torn from the rafters above him.
and which he hurled at them with tolerable
aim and direction, but which, fortunate
ly, struck nobody.
He next seized coach. dog, which for two
years had been his constant companion, and
for which he has always evinced the warm
est attachment, and dashed him. lifeless
against the roof. il ''HS ut ~
Finding his rage so terrible and his mood
SO revengeful, it was determined to subject
him by hunger, if possible, and up to Fri
day last he had not received particle of
food or water, but which treatment had
not the slightest effect in appeasing his
fury. - =
1t was then determined to ''taken him.
1t becomes necessary to explain this term
to the reader.
Whenever 1t becomes expedient. from
death, or otherwise, to furnish an elephant
with new keeper, or an old one is obliged
to bring him under subsection, they stake
him." as it is called in showmen.s narlance
This is done by confining him beyond the
power of resistance, and then beating him
until he trumpets forth his subjection and
yield submission to his tormentors.
In this instance guy stakes were driven in
the ground distance OF about 100 feet both
in front annd rear of the elephant, and to
these ropes were securely fastened, running
through falls and blocks, and which, by very
adroit management. were attached to the
fetters which encompassed and bound his
legs. la ttHBas - aHl ,f.eE 40 OF ~
To accomplish this successfully. it was
necessary for one of the keepers to stand, in
front of him with gun heavily loaded with
bird-shot, and whenever he offered to strike
at those who were fastening the ropes to his
letters, a charge was fired into his trunk.
causing him to roar with rage and pain, but
to desist from offensive Demonstrations
When everything was ready, the huge mon
ster's legs were drawn from under him by
the men at the ropes, and he was brought
to recumbent position, lying broadside on
the ground. His legs were then brought
and bound similar to that of calf
for the market, and then the work
OF subJection commenced in earnest. His
keeper, the only man that was allowed to
utter word, advanced, and driving the
elephant spear deep into his f1anks, com
manded him in sharp, decisive tones to
speak" He met with no response but a
defiant blow from the elephants trunk. He
was then belabored fer eight hours, with
stout iron rods, and wounded with the spear
times, until he was brought
under complete subsection and begged long
and loud for mercy. He was then released
from his bonds, and rose to his feet in very
sorry plight, and in such abiect fear of his
tormentors that, to use the rather expressive
words OF his keep, "a child can now drive
him with rye straw Cincinnati CONNER
,ial.