Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-08
A Circus Reminiscence- An Event
of Thirty Years Ago.

Thirty years ago to-day, on the 3lst of
December, 1889, the famous rampsge of
the elephant Columbus occurred near
New Orleans, and as the only living wit.
nesses Of the affair are residents Of Gin
cinusti ct present, we will give short
account of tho elephaHtine tare.
Raymond & Wahripg's Circus and
Menagerie, which had been showing sep
arately in the center Of Louisiana, were
ordered by the proprietors to rendezvous
at point three miles above A Agiers-
which town is directly opposite New
Orleans-on the last day of the year, iii
order that the combination, which was
the largest that ever appeared in the
South, MIGHT march into the Crescent
City on New Years D,y. With one
branch OF the show was the elephant
Columbus, and with the other Hannibal,
both of whom achieved national fame
afterwards. The junction had been
formed, and tie procession was nearly in
readiness to move, when, unfortunately,
the two elephants were brought together,
and they Immediately proceeded to test
their pugilistic sccomp plishments. Their
keepers interfered, and succeed in part
ing them, and Hannibal quieted down,
but Columbus was not to be so easily sat
isfei. Ee stood glaring around for .
few moments, anl then struck his
keepers horse fearful blow with his
trunk, and followed it by thrusting his
immense tusks lover six feet long)
through the animals body. The keeper,
VIM Crum, fell with his horse, aud the
elephant next attacked bin, picking him
up with his trunk, and dashing him
against the ground with such force as to
break half the bones in his body, and
causing instant death. Columbus then
marched along the line until he reached
the lama cage, which he upset and de-
molished, killing the lama. His nexs
movement was to make dive for John
Robinson aud Arthur Crippen, both of
this city, who were connected with sSe
service, but these gentlemen being on
horseback, succeeded, although with
great trouble and danger in escaping
Columbus now pasted the caravan at 10
run, and soon met drsyman driving two
mules, both of which fell victims to bis
rage, as did also the driver. who at
tempted to escape by running, but was
overtaken. Passing through A'giers, the
elephant soon came across negro sitting
on fence, and tore down the fence to get
at him, and then tore him piecemesl.
The negro was slave, and Columbus
owners were required to pay $500 for
killing him. Further on, about nine
miles from his starting point, the ele-
phant met Freedman and party Of
negroes, whom he attempted to demolish
also, but here he met his match, and after
a combat of nearly an hour, he gave up
and was chained, having first received
three balls from rife under his right
eve. The wounds occasioned no incon-
venience, however, beyond producing
running sores, which lasted until Colum-
bus death, which was caused by his
falling through bridge at North Adams,
Massachusetts, and breaking his neck.
In his rampage the elephant killed nearly
a dtzen horses, males, cows and calves,
for which his owners were compelled to
pay about $4,000. The circus and
meuagerie company was composed OF
l08 men, of whom but three are known
to be living at present, they being John
Robinson, circusman, and Arthur L.
Cr;ppen, watchmAn at the and Q. de-
Dot in this city, and Louis Lipmsn, dry
goods merchant at Laurel, Indiana, oil
three of whom witnessed the disaster,
and we're compelled to use extreme ex-
ertions to preserve their own lives. Mr..
Crippen had subsequently both his arms
broken by Columbus while assisting in
shipping him in Philadelphia.