Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-09
Exciting Times in 1ueriden.

The large elephant, named Mogul, connected
with 0'Brien's menagerie, which recently went
on rampage at Daniesonyille, has been doing
so again in Meriden. AT the close of the after
noon performance, on Thursday, he made his
way through the tent, overturned large wagon,
driving his tusks through it and scattering the
pieces around very promiscuously. The Meri-
den Republican says:
"Other wagons he smashed, crushing the
wheels and twisting the tongues off as though
they had been little twigs. Three large and
valuable baggage wagons were thus torn TO
pieces in few minutes. One of these he drove
through the side of Robert Oughton's barn,
crushing in the sides as though it had been an
egg shell. He then went for a large mule,
drove both tusks through the animal, piercing
him through to the heart. The poor mule was
klllef-lnstantly, of course. He then showed
him along the ground, occasionally varying the
performance by tossing the body into the air.
Piles of lumber near by Crossley'S wagon shop
next claimed his attention; the boards and
tlmbers went spinning through the air, and now
lie scattered in every direction. Meanwhile his
keeper and the employees commenced to shoot at
him with reyolyers and shot guns, careful not to
strike him in any vital part. The shot made no
impression upon him; the balls would produce
a Slight Scrin9ing, something like that produced
upon school boy when his ears are slapped.
two hands where ten balls had struck. He then
took TO the street, and the manager had hopes
OF getting him out OF the city, where he would
get quiet. He did proceed quietly for little dis
lance in company with the female elephant which
all of the time remained quiet and perfectly
tractable, but finally broke again into the or
chard on the Deacon Camp place. Here they
placed chains about his legs and fastened him
partially to a large apple tree, the trunk OF
wmch was more than foot through. The
Drute was here in a terrible state of excitement;
ne stripped of the branches with his trunk and
tuSks as one would strip leaves from trig.
One oil the tusks was broken off close to his
mead. Ropes and chains were thrown around
nm and the tree, and an effort made to cast
MN. ms did not succeed. 1t was exceeding.
ly dangerous to come near him all of this time,
as he would swing that proboscs rather pro
miscously' AT last he placed his head against
the tree and tore it up by the roots. He re-
manned in this condition for some time. Finally
he was chained to another tree and a guard
stationed about him."
This was the situation about u o'clock at
night, when the keepers were left guarding
him. AT one O'Clock gang of roughs came to
the grounds and lodged around among the trees,
throwing missiles at the elephant to enrage him
AT four O'Clock there were tity or more tor
menting Mogul, but the police soon put stop
TO this. At five O'Clock, the Recorder says
"a movement was made TO throw him on his
and chain were adjusted to his hind feet, but it
slipped off, the rope breaking three times.
Additional help was obtained upwards of a
hundred men Pulling at the ropes, but Mogul
sull resisted and drew the whole crowd with him
several feet Finally his two fore feet were Sc
curely fastened to large tree, the crowd hold of
the ropes and tackle hitched to his hind legs,
thus getting tremendous purchase and brought
hlm majestically on to his knees, when he was
thrown upon his side, in which position he has
lain all day. This being done, pitchiorks were
thrust into him at vulnerable poinls-such as
one eye, put out two years since-into his pro-
boscls and ears; at the same time beating him
feariulIy with rails and poles. But thus far to
purpose, as his spunk still holds cool When
be is fully conquered he will signify 1t by a pe-
culiar long whistle. The elephant was caught
by Major Cooley, and shipped from England TO
Philadelphia about three years ago, since which
time he has been in possession Of MIR. 0'Brien,
who paid $4,000 and has been offered $50 900
for him. His weight is five and a half tons, is
fifty years old, consumes three four bushels of
oats in day and from TWO 10 three hundred
weight Of hay. MoguI has never given his pro
pretors trouble before, excepting at Danieson-
vile the other day. where he was frightened, il
is thou0bt by n thunder storm,