Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-01-14
A Circus Reminiscence.

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THIRTY years ago to-day, on the S1st OF
December, $780, the famous rampage OF
the elephant Columbus occurred near New
Orleans, and as the only living witnesses OF
the affair are residents of Cincinnati at
present, we will give short account OF
the elephantine tear. ~819 ga "
Raymond SWahfings circus and me-
nagerie, which had been showing sepa-
rately in the centre of Louisiana, were or
dered by the proprietors to rendezvous at
q point three miles above Algiers--which
town is directly opposite New Orleans
on the last day of the year, in order that
the combination, which was the. largest
that has ever appeared in the South, might
march into the Crescent city on New
Years day. With one branch OF the show
was the elephant Columbus, and with the
other Hannibal, both of whom achieved
national fame afterward. The junction
had been formed, and the procession was
nearly in readiness to move, when, unfor-
tunately, the two elephants were brought
together, and they Immediately proceeded
to test their pugilistic accomplishments.
Their keepers interfered and succeed IN
parting them and Hannibal quieted down,
b but Columbus was not to be so easily salts
fed. He stood glaring around for few
minutes, and then struck his keepers
horse fearful blow with his trunk, and
followed it up by thrusting his immense
tusks (oveI six feet long) through the an.
imal's body. The keeper, VIM. Crum, fell
with his horse, and the elephant next at
tackled him, picking him up in his trunk
and dashing him against the ground with
such force as to break half the bones in
hic hodu op5 oor1ca instant death GO-
lumbus then marched along the line until
and demolished, killing the lama. His
next movement was to make a dive for
John Robinson and Arthur Crippen, both
g of this city, who were connected with the
service, but these gentlemen, being on
horseback, succeeded, although with great
trouble and danger, in escaping. Colum-
bus now passed the caravan at run, and
soon met drayman, driving two mules,
both of which fell victims to his rage, as
did the driver, who attempted to escape by
running, but was overtaken. Passing
through Algiers, the elephant soon came
across negro man sitting on fence, and
tore down the fence to get at him, and
then tore him piecemeal. The negro was
q slave, and Columbus owners were re.
quired to pay $1,000 for killing him.
Further on, about nine miles from
his starting point, the elephant met
Frenchman and party of negroes
whom he attempted to demoralize also
but here he met his match, and after O
combat of nearly an hour he gave up and
was chained, having first received three
bullets from rifle, just below the right
eye. The wounds occasioned no incon-
venience, however, beyond producing
running sores, which lasted until Colum-
bus death, which was caused by his fall
ing through bridge at North Adams
Mass, in 1854, and breaking his neck. In
his rampage the elephant killed nearly o
dozen horses, mules, COWS and calves, fol-
which his owners were compelled to pay
about $4,000. The circus and managerit
company was. composed of 108 men, o.
whom but three are known to be livine
st present, they being John Robinson
circusman, and Arthur P. Grippen, watch
mar, at the l. & G. depot in this city, ant
Louis Lipman, dry goods merchant a
Laurel, Ind, all three of whom witnessed
the disaster, and were compelled to observ,
extreme caution to preserve their owl
lives Mr.. Grippen subsequently hat
both his arms broken by Columbus, Will
assisting in shipping him in Philadelphia
Cincinnati Chronicle Dec. 31st. .-v4rr -