The Hickman courier., 1869-04-10
Great Sensation in Mississippi.
An Elephant and "a Lion ON the
Rampage.
Death OF the Elephant.

|. A Scot county correspondent of the
Brandon Republican,, gives the following
veracious account of doings at Forest,
Miss, on the 22d of March:
Several days previous, immense posters
were posted on all the walls in town, an
nouncing that Reynolds Great Mexican
gymnasium and Menagerie would ex-
hlblt IN Forest on that day. Early in
the morning all the roads leading to town
were thronged with people, of all ages,
sexes and eolors, and by ten o'clock the
whole town was alive with anxious visi-
tors, awaiting the arrival of the menag-
erie. AT eleven the fine brass band an
nounced the arrival of the show. and by
twelve the canvas was stretched and the
cages of the animals arranged
The huge elephant, Hercules-the lar
gest elephant ever imported to this coun-
try was chained to a stake, and by way
of caution 20 those entering the canvas.
Mr. John Aston, his keeper, stated that
ne had for several days man1lcss1t. 4 dis
position Of insubordination, and begged
that no one would approach sufficiently
near to receive a blow from his trunk
Mr.. Mark Kite, from the northern part
OF the county, coming in after Mr.. Al
ston's admonition, thoughtlessly handed
him piece of tobacco, which so enraged
him that he struck at him with such vio-
lence as to dislocate his shoulder, al
though it 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 en-
tirely uncomfortable, and he would strike
and kick-at every object near him. By
this time the scene was beyond descrip-
ton. The vast crowd few for life. He
few at his kec-- er 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 rot
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 enranged. He Immediately ran
toward it with great speed and met it
with such shock that he broke one of
his Susks and was Immediately killed
The engine was detached from the
train and thrown from the track, and
Mr.. Wharton, the engineer, having fail
ed to shut off steam, it unfortunately ran
into the canvass and smashed the lions
cage. killing the lioness, and releasing
the lion. The lion finding himself un-
injured and at liberty, and being frigBS
ened by the steam and whistle of re
engine, started at full speed down the
Homewood road, roaring terrifcally.
He had gone but short distance
when he met Mr.. George W. Sheppard
and gave chase. Mr.. Sheppard finding
that he was gaining on him rapidly and
that he would certainly be overtaken,
attempted to climb sapling. He struck
at him with his paw as he ascended, but
foTtunarci5 Gid no uSdvr-d drn1age than 70
tear off his coat tail and carry away a
pars7of his pants.
Mr. John Smith, of Raleigh, who was
on his way to Forest riding his fine pac-
ing horse, with his little son behind him,
met him four miles from here. AS soon
as his horse saw him he neighed, wheRs
the lion rushed at him, seized him by the
throat and threw him upon the ground.
Mr Smith with his little son escapetAto
Forest on foot.
While he was devouring Mr. Smith
horse, Mr. James j Ritch, who was on
his way to Forest with load of chickens,
drove up. AS soon as he saw him he
reared his hind feet, lashed the ground
with his tail aud sprang at hip. Mr.
Ritch eluded him by jumping from his
wagon, when he mounted and began to
tear open the boxes containing the chick
ems and turned them opt. He then
seemed to loose sight of everything 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. Mr. Reynolds,
the owner of the lion, begged them not
to kill him, and sent several men with
the crowd wssh instructions to capture
him if possible, but no doubt theaeitizens
will kill him as soon as they ertake
him. It isIeported that he killed freed
man in Smith county, near Dir. Thomas
Husbands, and that when last heard
from he was going down Ocoha. The
news that a lion is at large spreads like
wildfire and the citizens are greatly ex-
cited.