The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-01
An Extraordinary Sensation.
AN ELEPHANT ATTACKS A HOUSE At NIGHT

A sensation Of The first water,
swept East St. Louis yesterday morn
ing, OF SO unique and exciting 81 /
character that it will not be forgot
ten for many long day. At about
half past 3 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, Mr.. Edward S. Bradley, a citi-
zen OF East st. Louis, was awakened
by his wife, with the intelligence that
burglars were attempting to effect an
entrance to the house, which, it may
be stated, is two-story frame, situa
ted on Third street. The upper por-
ton OF the dwelling is occupied by
the family for sleeping apartments,
while one Of the lower rooms serves
as a room for an old lady named
Flynn, member of the household.
On learning that some cause for
alarm really existed, Mr.. B. arose,
and grasping q huge cavalry sword,
stationed himself at the window, ex-
pecting every moment to see the in
gress, or attempted ingress of some
daring thief, and determined to de-
fend his freside at all hazards. While
thus waiting a sudden crash was
heard from below, as if the whole side
Of the house had been damned in,
and at the same time the old lady
was heard to scream pierclngly, as If
, wild with fear According to the
story, the window and the bureau
: near it were suddenly. dashed into
the middle of the room. Her hus-
band is q night Waterman, and being
: soon expected home, she thought he
must have been out drunk, and was
attempting to get in through the Win
e dow. She sprang from her bed and
t seized what she supposed to be the
: retreating leg of man. 1t had
o queer feel, however, and was draw
8 outward With violence, and the ole
e lady having advanced close to the
! shattered window, saw, to her horror
q the towering bulk of an enormou:
~ elephant. Unable to overcome th'
Y shock. she fell almost insenslble Il
e the floor. At this stage OF affairs
st Mr.. b., with his drawn sabre, started
d to the rescue. The stairs leading be
y. low are on the outside of the house
(, and as he descended he encountere'
~ the elephant, who appeared deter
Iv mined to ascend the steps. A FEY
Il Il blows of the steel blade on the trun
" cowed the huge brute, and he com
+ menced retreat. He backed out c
IL the yard, and took northerly cours
n until he arrived at a saloon owned b
he Mr.. Chas. Schafner, at which plac
+ he stopped, took general observ;
p ton of the surroundings, then, mai
ms ing desperate charge, he shlvere
as a large door to atoms. This last a
ed fair was the close of his damage. Il
Ter wandered off through the silei
streets, and at daylight was foun
ad near the southeastern depot dea
ut, having, it is said, died from the e
ne fects of the cold. The explanation
We the business was soon ascertaine
70 The elephant belonged to a menas
nix RE, which was going East on the Va
a dalia road The elephant was left
of dark by the keeper in railroad Ca
LIE being, as was supposed, secure
of locked in. During the night, ho'
ever, he broke the chain which fas
eE- ened his leg, tore down the door al
IVY started on his voyage OF death. t
,nI was an immense brute, and his CO
VAS cass was viewed with intense curio
ON ty by the citizens during the day. 1t
,si- said that the original cost of the al
18th. nal was nearly $500O.-[St. Lo'
ana Republican.