Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-03-04
NO. 25.
An Exciting Scene.

A Florida correspondent of the Fort
Gaines Mirror gives the following account
of the experiences of a portion of Robin
sons circus and menagerie, when passing
through swamp between Tallahassee,
Fla, and Quincy: ~.
AT three o'clock p. M, on Tuesday,
Jan. 25, Prof Lewis Houston, who has
charge of the animals, started with the
elephant Empress, the large Bactrian
camel, the beautiful Arabian white camel,
fine thoroughbred mare and colt, and
two spotted coach dogs, to make the trip
to Quincy, although repeatedly warned by
Mr.. j. F. Robinson, Jr., not to attempt
the passage of the swamp in any other
than daylight. He, however, went
through. Before approaching the ford,
an occasional below Or roar was heard
betokening that the inhabitants of the
locality had not retired for the night, and
sudden plunge and splash in the water
alert for mischief. The elephant would,
emitting at the same time loud screech of
defiance, the camels uttering low moans,
while the horses almost refused to stir and
stood trembling with fear, while the dogs
kept UP an incessant bowling. Approach
ing the water of the ford, Houston
determined upon the immediate passage
through before the alligators had time to
summon their crew.
Bidding the elephant enter, she stepped
boldly in, at the same time lashing the
water furiously with her trunk, the cam
els, horses and dogs following close in the
rear He had passed two thirds Of the
way when a sharp yelp of pain from one
of the dogs, and his sudden disappearance,
denoted that the swamp fiends were at
work, and before he could collect his
thoughts the other dog went under with
long death howl He now began to !.
think of his own safety, and calling to the
elephant commanded her to turn, as she :
did, So fearful roar was heard from the
large Bactrian camel, who had at that in
slant been attacked. The water seemed
alive with alligators. The roaring, below
ing and screeching of elephant, camels
and allgators were terrific. They would
throw their pondrous jaws open, ana tear
huge pieces of flesh from the camel; while
the poor brute would utter heart-rending
groans and cries for relief. In the mean
time the elephant was not idle. Ever So
licitous for the welfare of her keeper and
companions, she had, at the moment OF
seeing them safely landed upon the oppo-
site shore, rushed back to the assistance
of her friend, the camel, who by this time
was nearly gone, and by creating the
greatest furore among her assailants suc-
ceeded in bringing the head of the camel
to the shore, that portion being all that
remained of the poor animal.
In the confusion that ensued, Houston
did not miss the colt until warned by a
shrill scream or neigh, which seemed to
come from several rods below. Upon
rushing down the stream few yards,
terrible scene was presented to his view.
1t would seem that the denizens OF Chatta-
hoochee swamp for miles around had be-
come cognzant of some extra attraction
at that particular point on this night, and
had started for the rendezvous, and upon
reaching the scene OF action had uneX-
pectedly encountered both food ana oppo-
sitioa at the same time-for simultaneous
with the meeting OF the colt they met
the pursuers, and an awful battle ensueo.
Several times it seemed as II the colt
would escape and regain the shore, so busy
were the alligators in destroying each
other; but Just before the poor creature
would reach the land, some monster, more
rayenous than brave, would leave the
melee, pursue and drag it back into deep
water, until finally it became exhausted
and fell an easy prey to the fearful rep
tiles, while Prof Houston stood looking
on with blanched and terrified looks,
wi Wholly M1'u unable to render the least assist
ance. threatened. with terrible death
shouId he even attempt it. As he turned
to retrace bis steps toward the place
where he left the remaining animals, he
counted the cost. He had made. the pas
sage, but at a terrible sacrifice, he came
out with an elephant, one camel, and one one
horse. The camel was valued at $4,000,
and very rare. The colt M Mr.: Robinson son
had repeatedly refused $ GOO for. 1t VIII
be many long year before MI Houston
win forget the horrors of passing through
a Florida swamp at night