The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-30
A Menagerie LOOse-An Elephant
Butts a LOcOmOtiye-Gets Hurt.

a. IoeohOuSc-Uets HuFt'
A correspon dent of the Bradon Miss
issippi, Republican writing from Forrest
in the same State, on the 25th of March,
sayj:
Several days previous immense post
ers were pasted on all the walls in town,
announcing that Reynolds great Mexi-
can Gymnasium and Menagerie would
exhibit in Forrest on that day. Early
in the morning all 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 menagerie.
AT eleven O'Clock the fine brass band
announced 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 ever imported into this country
was chained to a stake and, by way of
caution to those entering the canvas,
John Alston, his keeper, stated that he
had for several days manifested a dispo-
sition 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 this 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
violence as to dislocate his shoulder, al =
though it was a 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-
tion. The vast crowd flew for life. He
flew at his keeper and pursued him un-
der the canvas.
The eleven O'Clock freight train being
behind time, and not having any freight
for Forrest, and the engineer not intend
ing to stop, came rushing along at the
rate of twenty miles an hour. When it
had approached within two hundred
yards he looked up and seemed doubly
enraged. He Immediately ran toward
it with great speed, and met it with such
stroke that he broke one of his tusks
and was Immediately killed. The Ell.
gfne was detached from the train and
thrown from the track, and Mr.. Whar-
ton, the engineer, having failed to shut
of the 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 liberty, and being frightened by
the steam and whistle of the engine,
started at full speed down the Home
wood road, roaring terifically. He had
gone but short distance when he met
r.Gecrga w Sheppard and gave chase.
Mr.. Sheppard finding that he was gain
ing upon him rapidly, and that he would
certainly be Overtaken, attempted to
climb sapIing. He struck at him with
his paw as he ascended, but fortunately
did no other damage than to tear Off his
coat tail and carry away part of his
pants.
MIR. John Smith, of Raleigh, who was
on his way to Forrest, 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
cd, when the lion rushed at him, seized
him by the throat aud threw him to the
ground. Mr.. Smith with his little son
escaped to the wood and made their
way to Forrest on foot.
While he was devouring Mr.. Smiths
horse, Mr.. James j. Ritch, who was on
his way to Forrest with load of chick
ems, drove up. AS soon rs he saw him
he reared on his hind feet, lashed the
ground with his tail, and sprang at him.
Mr.. Ritch eluded him by jumping from
his wagon, when he mounted and began
to tear open tho boxes containing the
chickens and turned them out. lie
then seemed to lose sight of everything
In his efforts TO catch them.
When the excitement in town abatcd,
about twenty mounted men, well armed
started in pursuit with all the dogs be-
longing in town as well as many who
had followed their owners. Mr..
Reynolds, the owner Of the lion, begged
them not to kill him, and sent several
men with the crowd with instructions
to capture him If fpossible, but no doubt
tho citizens will kill him as soon AZ
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 II lion is at large spreads like