The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-02
RAID ON A MENAGERIE.

A Tribe of GuileIess savages Borrow an
Elephant fer the Purpose of Making a
Grand Midnight Professionalism the
Festivities Terminated.
The Kansas City Bulletin of the 26th of May
has a tremendously displayed article. under the
title Dreadful Occurrence" from which we
make the following extracts
The Indian village Of Pottawatsrnie, in Kansas,
was the theatre of an intensely exciting occur
renee on the night of May 81. The meuagerie
and circus Of old Jehn Robinson had exhibited,
to the great delight and astonishment of the
untutored red man. The sstonishment and
curiosity were great when the gigantic prepor-
tiOns of the elephant Emperor burst upon their
view. Everything passed of quietly.
About midnight the watchman, wishing to re-
ceive some information in regard to starting in
the morning, stepped over to the hotel where
Mr.. Robinson was quartered, and while engaged
in conversation with him ar awful, unearthy
howl resounded through the halls, followed by
series OF cries; grsans, and screeches such as
no mortal ever heard before. Robinson, quickly
comprehending the matter, ordered every man
to come cut, as he was certain that some of the
animals had broken loose. Upon suddenly turn
ing a csrner they beheld sight they will never
forget. In the foreground was the huge form of
old Emperor, upon whose back was perched a
half dozen Warriors shouting and gesticulating
wildly to their brethren below, while at inter-
walls of half minute horrid yell would ring
out upon the night air, followed by huge columns
of smeke and dust.
The company, headed by Mr.. Robinson, rush
ing up Immediately, scattered the Indians from
off the elephants back and led him away. His
body was found to be covered with wounds, from
which the blood was flowing in streams. Over
one hundred arrows were found sticking in his
body.
Amid the confusion it was impossible to ascer-
tain 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 miscAievously in
clned person; and upon inquiry being made, l.;
was ascertained that party of young braves,
noticing how very gentle and harmless the ele-
| phant was, concluded to have grand menage-
| rie procession of their own; and while SEINE
were unlocking his chains five or six leaped
| upon his back aud tive mere walked on each
| side and steered him along, and thus the grand
cavalcade started for the Indian quarter of the
| town, intending no doubt to create q big sensa-
| tion among their brethren which they certainly
| did, though with result far different from
what they anticipated; for upon reaching the
frst 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 o mouthful, when the
whole top gave way.
| The Indians, becoming alarmed for the safety
| of the rest of their wigwans, commenced gead-
| ing him with spears and knives, while at the
| same tire a hundred torches were flashed upon
| the scene, producing the very object they were
endeavering to prevent, for it not only confused
| but blinded the elephant while the pain and
torture of the knife and arrew wounds rendered
| him almost frantic with rage and terror to such
| a degree that he rushed madly forward, dealing
destruction all sides; aud it weuld be difficult
| to tell which party expressed the most satisfsc-
tien in parting from each others society, Indi-
| ans or elephant.
Mr.. Robinson Immediately sent for the chief
| to endeavor to conciliats him, and to remunerats
those who had lost their dwellings by the un-
| fortunate occurrence. Upon the arrival of that
dignitary, he quickly made known his wishes,
when the chief Immediately replied that the
'father of all the animals" as he termed the
| elephant, twas not to blame but that the blame
rested upon his young men who had unfastened
old Emperor, for which they were very sorry.