The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-03

They get up some pretty good things CO.
OAsonally 10 Missouri, as witness the follow.
ing from the Kansas City Bulletin of May
3O,h:
The beautiful Indian village of POttAwas-
omie, situated on the Neosho river, in the
State Of KansRs, was the theatre OF an in
tensely exciting, but wholly unavoidable oc.
ourreuce on the night of Sunday, May q.
The mammoth menagerie and circus of old
John Robinson. which had exhibited the
day previous TO crowded houses, to the great
delight. wonder and Astonishment Of the
untutored red man, was tho great centre OF
attraction. Their sstonishmeut and curios
ity was great when the gigantic proportions
OF Old Emperor burst upon their view.
Everyt thing passed off quietly, and on Sun
day evening the weather and water being
warm, Mr.. Robinson determined TO let Old
Emperor enjoy the luxury of q bath In the
river, which is n very frequent custom
among menagerie owners. Accordingly,
between the hours of five end six NJ, Prof
Bael, the keeper was directed to bring him
down TO the stream. The Indians, to the
her of twenty or thirty we're noticed
watching the PROCESS of unfasteniug the
chains which secured the elephant, with the
closest scrutiny (the object of which will
shortly be SEEM
Old Emperor made up his mind 10 ENJOY
himself. and moved on with slow and ma.
jsstic tread toward the stream, SEEMING to
care for naaght but the commands Of his
keeper. As he neared the bank of the river,
without waiting to receive the command, he
plunged boldly in, and began disportinR
- A. IL. -
plunGing from side to side, sucking up great
quantities of water and blowing 1t out
through his huge proboscs in great columns
twenty or thirty feet high, allowing IT 10 fall
in showers of spray upon ell around him,
the sight Of which, TO the Indiana, was truly
marvellous. After remaining in the water
until dark, he was conducted back to the
corral or camp and secured for the night
the crowd in the meantime following and
Watching the entire proceedings with the
closest attention.
AS soon as he was uniettered and began
to move, it seemed as if the tocsin OF
war had sounded; from every wlgwam,
hut and cabin they swArmed forth, young
on / old, as strange and fantastic looking
crowd Of humanity as ever was seen before,
and it was certainly as much of q snow
10 the sbowmsn IS it EAs 20 the half
naked crowd Of savRges themselves
The wild and excited shouts of the children,
the shrill aud discordant cries of the squsws,
the dsep-toned cultural EXPLANATIONS of the
warriors and braves, created q bedlAm OF
sounds which never wa nor can be heard
outside an Indian village.
The Indians slowly disappeared and sought
their wigwA ms for the night, and there be-
ing no further need of remaining awake, the
tired showmen also sought so obtain the
rest they so much needed In order TO enable
them TO 90 through with the moErow's work.
il is customary with all well-regulated men
sgeris and circus companies TO employ a
man as wAtchmAu, and to him is intrusted
the business of awakening the company in
the morning, 10 be in readiness for bresk
fast and al early start on the road, SGd to
his care is also committed the entire estsb-
lishment through the night.
About midnight the watchman, wishing TO
receive some information in regard TO start
ing in the morning, stepped over to the
hotel where Mr.. Robinson was quarted, and
while engaged in conversation with him al
awful, uneGrIbly howl rssoupded through
the halls of the hotel followed by q series of
cries groAns aud screeches such as no NOR
tai ever heard before. In an instant the
doors Of the .ferent rooms were hurriedly
open d by the terrified inmates, Windows
thru up, and frightened faces looked wildly
cut.
The women and children uttering piteous
walls OF terror crouched oowerIngly down
near the men with pale and frightened coun
tenAnoes-orying what is it?" Are We
attacked By the IudiRns?" "Will they come
her Z" "Oh, we shall all be murdered. y
The scene was enough to make the stoutest
heart quake with fear. Mr.. Robinson, quick
ly mpreheuding the matter, sprang from
the room and ordered every man TO come
out, IS he WAS certain that some of the AMI
mas mad brok la loose. Upon emerging
from The house it was at frat 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 she enoAmpmens.
The noise and din seeming to grow louder
each instant, and being in the Indian por
tlon of the town, they hurrldely made thell
way thither, and upon suddsndly turning 4
corner they beheld q sight they will nevel
forget. In the foreground was the huge
form of Old Emperor, upon his back wa
perched half dozen warriors, shouting anC
gestculRting wildly TO their brethren below
while At intervals of half a minute q hOrriC
yell would ring out upon the night air, 70
lowed by huge columns OF smoke and dust
and then could be heard the shrill trumpet
ing of the elephant "a uttered when enraget
or in pain. On every side lay the ruins Q
the once peaceful homes of the Indians.
AS the showmen were preparing to rescu
Emperor, crash went his huge trunk, and 81
entire wigwsm was seen flying through tn
air, while from the clouds of dust and heap
of rubbish could be seen the naked forms G
some half dozen squAws and children re
gaining consciousness, and darling ava
through the woods with frightful yells c
terror. The scene was awful the demon
nc yells of the savages, the Infatuated trum
peting of the elephant, were enough =
strike terror and dismAy to the stoutsi
heart.
The company, headed by Mr. Robinson
rushing up Immediately, scattered the Ind
ans from off the elephants back and le
him away. He manifested his delight q
finding himself once more among his friend
by repeatedly caressing his keeper with hi
trunk. His body was found 10 be oovere
with wounds, from which the blood was tiow1n
in streams. Over one hundred arrows wei
found sticking in his body. Their first pro
CO ding was to extract the arrows leach on
as it was drawn from his flesh caused hir
to utter piteous mOsns of psin1, and the
staunch the flow of blood, which being don
he was enabled with great difficulty to wa
back to his camp. Amid the confusion
was impossible to ascertain how he BEGAN
loosened from his place Of confinement; bu
upo1 exam ing the chain it was found
b unlocked, showing that il was thrOug
the agency Of some mischisvouely moline
person and upon strict inquiry bein
made. it was ascertsned that q psrty G
yonng braves. noticing how very gentle an
harmless the elephant was, concluded t
have grand menagerie procession of thei
own; and while some were unlocking hi
chains, five or six lesped upon his back an
two more walked upsn his side end steere
him along and thps the GRAND eAVaIcad