Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-01-08
NUMBER |.
" Taking" an Elephant.

The war elephant " Romeo" belonging to
Forepaugh's menagerie, aud better known among
showmen as cold Canada, - has been celebrated
for years ms being the most vicious vildictive
and dangerous elephant in the country. He has
killed, at different periods, three his keepers,
and has frequently created the most dire con-
sternation, besides damaging property to a con-
siderable value, in his surly moods. 1t will be
remembered that two years ago this winter he
killed his keeper, Williams, at Hatboro, Penn
sylvania, and remained in II fren2ied condition
nearly the entire winter before he could be sub
jected Since then he has caused but little
trouble, until Monday last, when he made his
quarters near Counersville, Indiana the scene
OF considerable diSquietude and no little danger.
day or two previous the female elephant
" Lalla Rookh," which Forepaugh had recently
purchased at the Sheriff 5 sale of Dr. Thayer's
circus, in Cincinnati wds placed in the same
building with Romeo, but was confined some
distance apart. During the night she succeeded
in drawing the stake to which she had been fet-
tered, and in the early hours Of the morning,
when George Forepaugh, Romeo'S keeper, en-
tered the building to look after his charge, he
found the two elephants standing together, and
Romeo evidently much delighted with his new
companion But Mr. Forepaugh thought it pru-
dent TO mar this newborn pleasure 10y returning
the female to her proper place This was in
stantly resented by Romeo by seizing his keeper
with his trunk and throwing him against tho
wall. More alarmed than injured, Mr. Fore
paugh fled from the building, and mounting his
horse sped to the village for assistance. The
necessary aid was quickly summoned, and a lit
tie army of showmen and villagers returned to
the fair grounds, where the elephant was con-
fined. They found him in II state of the greatest
fury, and their first reception was a large piece
| of timber which Romeo had torn from the rAters
above him, and which he hurled at them with
| tOlprnblp aim and direction I'm which fortn-
nately, struck nobody. He next seized coach
dog, which for two years had been his constant
companion, and for which he has always evinced
the warmest attachment, and dashed him lifeless
against the roof
Finding his rage was so terrible and his mood
so revengeu, it was determined to subject him
by hunger, if possible, aud up to Friday 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
| " take him. IL becomes necessary to explain
this term to the general reader. Whenever it
becomes eXpedient, from death or otherwise, to
! furnish an elephant with new keeper, or an old
one is required to bring him under suhjection,
they " take him, as it is called in showmen's
parlance. This is done by conlnng him beyond
the power of resistance, and then beating him
until he trumphets forth his subjection, and
yields submission to his tormentors. In this in
| stance guy stakes were driven in the ground, ~
ulSlhuCt Ol HDONL one Hunufbu lctL DOlu III lTOHJ
and 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. To accomplish this sue
cessfuly 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 the letters, charge was fred into his trunk,
/ causing him to roar with rage and pain, and to
desist from offensive demonstration. When
everything ready, the huge monsters legs
were drawn from under him by the men at the
ropes, and he was brought to IA recumbent posi-
ton, lying broadsde on the ground. His legs
were then brought together and bound similar
TO that Of a calf tcthered for the market, aud
then the work of subjection commenced in ear
nest. His keeper, the only man that was al
lowed to utter word, advanced and driving
the elephant spear deep into his Hanks COM
manded him in sharp, decisive tones, to
| ''speak ~ He met with no response but def
nnt blow from the elephants trunk. lie was
| then belabOred for eight hours with stout iron
rods and wounded with the spear nnumerabe
times, until he was brought under complete sub
lection and begged long aud loud for mercy.
/ He was then released from his bonds and rose
to his feet in very sorry plight, aud in such
abject fear Of his tormentors that, to use tho
rather expressive words of his keeper ga child
can now drive him with rye straw - CHcia~
matt Enquirer.