The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-10-24
Gbe Gin1es, New Bluomtelo, pa.
Freaks of an Elephant.

NIDhiEN . meuhSeTle WHICH nus
" been travelling through the state
of Conn, recently had some unpleasant
experience with the large elephant called
Mogul. Just after the afternoon perform
ances at Meriden, he took it into his head
to enact tragedy not on the bills, so
walking majesticly out of his enclosure
he went for his keeper in fit of rage
The keeper sought refuge under the cage
containing Kangaroos, which Mogul dis
dainfully turned over in jiffy, and walk
ed through the canvas out of doors. Then
he went out on tour of inspection, and
if not seeking whom he might devour,"
he certainly seemed willing to accommo-
date anybody or anything that might
wish for set-to. Meeting pile of
lumber in the adjoining lumber yard, he
quickly spread the boards in good shape
for seasoning. Then meeting in his path
one of the mules belonging to the COM
pany, he ran his tusks completely through
its body, pinuing it to the ground, and
killing the animal instantly. The next
obstruction in his majesty's path was
wagon belonging to Messrs. Grether &
Hall, which he scornfully seized with his
trunk, aud raising it, smashed it TO pieces:
then he returned to the dead mule, and
again plunged his tusks through it, and
breaking off one of his tusks close to the
jaw, sauntering carelessly into State
street. The keeper and other attaches
of the menagerie soon rallied, and by
strategy and good tactics he was induced
to enter a field belonging to Mr. Camp,
thence into an orchard where he indulg-
ed in the pastime of tearing or smashing
whole lengths of picket fence. The novel
mode of subduing him, temporarily, by
shooting him in the face and trunk with
buckshot, was adopted. Some fifty heavy
charges were fired at him the stinging
effect acted we'll as slight check upon
his operations, during which his keeper
fearlessly approached and chained him to
on apple tree about twelve inches in di-
ameter, which was no sooner dicovered
by the enraged animal than he instantly
and without apparent effort, but with the
greatest ease, tore it up by the roots, and
again created the greatest CONSERVATION
among the immense crowd who had now
collected in the immediate vicinity All
went, and stood not on the order OF
going, but some tall running was done
and some laughable accidents occurred in
the stampede, leaving the ground free to
Mogul and his would-5e captors
He was, by great daring and agility on
the part of his keeper, again secured by
claiming his hind feet to very large
tree here he was left for the night,
and a good guard stationed with rifles
loaded with ball, to kill him should he
again break loose during the night. He
was evidently much chagriued at his con-
fnement, and continued to snort" and
struggle to break the chain, affording
much excitement throughout the city
during the entire night, but fortunately
he was held until about 5 o'clock in the
morning, when his keeper, with the as
sistance of the entire force of the concern
and about 500 citizens, undertook the
job of punishing and subduing the mon
ster. Large ropes and chains were pro-
cured, and after many attempts in which
the same were broken quite easily he was
finally, at the end of two hours, thrown
down aud secured in that position, when
simultaneously his beating began by a
dozen strong men with clubs, iron bars,
spears, and pitchforks, and continued
until the men we're exhausted, and again
renewed from time to time for about two
hours, at which time after many wounds,
and pounding enough to seemingly kill
him, he was as obstinant as ever. Refus-
ing to surrender, he was left to his own
reflections in this condition, and the beat
ing abated for time. At the present
time of writing (twelye hours), he seems
determined not to succumb, A choice
be has of doing SO or being killed, as in
his dangerous mood he will not be allow
ed to rise without evidence of change
of heart. 1t is estimated that the dam
age done in his tantrum will cost over
$500
Fortunate it is that no lives were lost