The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-02
AN ELEPHANT ON THE RAMPAGE.
He Does a Smashing Business.

SA@<N-oAAAAA6
O,Brien's Menagerie exhibited al
Meriden, Conn.,, a short time ago, and
during the day the elephant belonging
to the concern asserted his freedom
and made things "get" in a lively
manner. How he conducted himself
is thus related by the New Haven
Register;
just after the close of the afternoon
performance, the great elephant Mogul
took it into his head to enact tragedy
not on the bills, SO, walking majestic
ally ouG of the enclosure, he went for
his keeper in fit of rage. The keep
er sought refuge under the cage con-
tanning kangaroos, which Mogul dis
dainfully turned over in a jiffy, and
walked through the tent out of doors.
Then he went on tour of inspection,
and if not " seeking whom he might
devour," he certainly seemed willing
to accommodate any body or any
thing that might wish to set to.
Meeting pile of lumber in an ad-
joining yard, he quickly spread the
boards in good shape for seasoning
Then meeting one of the mules be-
longing to the company, he run his
tusks completely through its body,
pinning it to the ground. The next
obstruction in his majesty's path was
q wagon belonging to Messrs. Grether
g Hall, which he scornfully seized
with his trunk. and, raising it, smash
ed 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, saunter-
ing carelessly into State street, with
none to modest or to make him afraid,
the crowd following at safe distance
behind, while before and about him
everybody seemed to be busy in get
ting out of his way. The keeper and
other attaches of the menagerle soon
rallied and by strategy and good tao
tics he was induced to enter field
belonging to Mr.. Camp, thence into
an orchard, where he INDUCED in the
pastime of tearing and smashing
whole lengths of picket fence. The
novel mode of subduing him, tempo
rarily, by shooting him in the face
and trunk with buckshot, was adopt
ed. Some fifty heavy charges were
fred at him the stinging effect acted
well as slight check upon his opera
tions, during which his keeper fear
lessIy approached and chained him to
an apple-tree about twelve inches in
diameter, which was no sooner discov-
cred 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 inn
mense crowd who had now collected
in the vicinity. All went, and stood
not on the order of going, and some
tall running was done, and some
incidents occurred i'll the
stampede, leaving the ground free to
Mogul and his would-be captors. He
was, by great daring and agility on
the part of his keeper, again secured
by chaining his hind feet to a very
large tree here he was left for the
night, and a guard stationed with
rides loaded with ball, to kill him
should he again break loose during
the night. He was evidently much
chagrined at his confinement, and con-
tinued to "snort" and struggle to
break the chain, affording much ex-
element throughout the city during
the night, but fortunately he was held
until five o'clock this morning, when
his keeper, with the assistance of the
entire force of the concern and about
500 citizens, undertook the job of SUBJ
DUNG the monster. Large ropes and
chains were procured, and after many
in which the same were
broken quite easily, he was finally, at
tine end of two hours, thrown down
and secured in that position, when,
his beating began by |
3 dozen strong men with clubs, iron
bars, spears and pitchforks, and con-
tinued until the men were 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
Is obstin ate as ever. Refusing to sur
render, he was left to his own refec-
lions in this condition, and the beating
abated for time. At the present
time of writing (twelve hours) he
seems determined not to succumb. A
choice he has of doing so or being
killed, as in his dangerous mood he
will not be allowed to rise without
evidence of change of heart. It is
that the damage done in his
.antrum will cost over 500. Fortu-
nate it is that no lives were lost.