The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-05
Monster Elephant Stolen
by Indians-HeD Destroys Half Their
village, and is Finally Rescued by

RobinaOn's Monster Elephant Stolen
by Iudians-He Destroys Half Their
Village, and is Finally Kcscucd by
His Keeper. 5ra4's4s uz- o.. o.
+ from the Kansas City Bulletin, May 2a1-
The beautiful Indian village of Pottawa'
tomie, situated on the Neosho river, In the
State of Kansas, was the theatre OF an in
tensely exciting but wholly unavoidable
occurrence on the night of Sunday, May
21. The mammoth menagerie and circus
of old John Robinson, which had exhibited
the previous day to crowded houses to the
great delight, wonder, and astonishment OF
the untrtored red man, was the great CEN
tire Of attraction.
About midnight the watchman, wistiTg
to receive some information m regard 10
starting in the morning, stepped over TO
the hotel where Dlr. Robinson was quar-
tered, and while engaged in conversation
with him an awful, unearthly howl re-
sounded through the halls Of the hotel, to-
lowed by a series of cries, sroans, and
screeches such as no mortal ever heard be-
fore. In an instant the doors of the dlfter-
ent rooms were hurriedly opened hy the
terrified inmates, windows thrust up, and
frightened faces looked wildly out.
The women and children, utterlnS plteous
near the men, with pale and frightened
countenances. @ crying, !. What isit?'' care
we attacked by Indians?" "Will they
come here?" tsOh, we shall all be MUIR
dered.'' The scene was enough to make
the stoutest heart quake with fear. Mir.
Robinson, quickly comprehending the mat
ter, sprang from the room and ordered
every man to come out, rs he was certain
that some of the animals had broken loose.
ITpon emerging from the house it was at
first supposed that the entire village was on
fire for it was nearly as light as day,
caused by the vast number OF torches
which were blazing through the encamp-
ment.
The noise and din seeming to grow louder
each instant, and being in the Indian por-
ton of the town, they burrledly made thelr
way thither, and upon suddenly turning
corner, they beheld sight they will never
forget. In the foreground was the huge
form of old Emperor, upon whose back
were perchcd half dozen warriors, shout
ing and cesticulating wildly to their breth-
rem below, whilst ut intervals OF half Il
minute horrid yell would ring out upon
the night air, followed by huge columns oil
smoke and dust, and then could be heard
the shrill trumpeting Of the elephant as ut
tered when enraged or in pain. On every
side lay Cne TulllS ol tuc oHCc pSaooiuh
homes Of the Indians. .As@
As the showmen were preparing to res
cue Empcror, crash went his huge trunk,
and an entire wigwam was seen lying
through the mir, while from the clouds OF
dust and heaps of rubbish could be seen
the naked forms Of some half-dOZen SquaWS
and children rcgaining consciousness, ana
dartinc away through the woods with fright
full wells of terror. The scene was awful !;
the demoniac yelIs of the savages, the infu-
rated trumpeting Of the elephant, were
enough to strike terror and dismay to the
stoutest heart.
The COMPANY. headed by Mr.. Robinson,
rushing up Immediately, scattered the In
dams from off the elephants back and led
him away. He manifested his delight at
finding himself once more among his friends
by repeatedly careSsing his keeper with his
trunk. His body was found to be covered
with wounds, from which the blood was
flowing in streams. Over. one hundred ar
rows we1e found sticking i'll his :body.
Their first proceeding was to extract the
arrows. each one us it was drawn from his
flesh causing him tJ utter piteous moanS OF
pain, and then staunch the flow of blood,
which being done, he was enabled with great
difficulty to walk back to the camp. amid
the confusion it was impossible TO ascertain
how he became loosened from his place
of confinement, but upon examining the
chain it was found to be unlocked, showing
that it was through the agency OF some;
mischievously-inclin person and upon
a strict inquiry being made, it was ascer-
tanned that party of young braves, no
ticlng how very gentle and harmless the
elephant was, concluded to have II grand
mcna.erie procession OF their own; anu
while some were unlocking his chains live
or six lcapcd upon his back, and two
more walked on each side and steefca
him along, and thus the grand caYal-
cade started for the Indian quarter ol the
town, intending, no doubt, to create big
sensation among their brethren, which
they certainly did, though with a result
far different from what they anticipated;
for, upon reaching the first OF long row
of wigwams, he discovered the top of one
which had been covered the day before
with the long, sweet grass OF the prairie,
thrust out his trunk for mouthful, when
the whole top gave way, and out burst the
frightened inmates with terrific screams,
also soaring the elephant at the same time.
The Indians, becoming alarmed for the
safety of the rest Of. tue wigWams, COM
menced goading him with spears and
knives, while at the same time hundred
torches were flashed upon the scene, pro-
ducng the very object they were endeavor-
ing to prevent, for it not only confused but
blinded the elephant, while the pain and
torture of The knife and arrow-wounds rem
dered him almost frantic with rage and ter
ror to such degree that he rushed nladly
forward, dealing destruction on all sides;
and it would be difficult to tell which party
expressed the most satisfaction IN parting
from each others society, Indians or cle-
phant. -s...a..-