Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-02-09
Extraordinary, Sensation.
An Elephant Attacks a House at
Night-a Man Run over and Il
Killed, ~

A sensation of the first water
swept East st. Louis yesterday
morning, of SO unique and excl
tinga character that twill not be
forgotten for many a long day.
At about halfpast three o'clock
yesterday morning, Mr.. Edward
S. Bradley, a citizen of East St.
Lcuis, was awakened by his wife,
with the intelligence that bur-
glars were attempting to effect an
entrance to the house, which, it may
be stated, is a two story frame sit
uated on Third street. The up
per portion of the dwelling is occu-
pied by the family fora sleeping a.
partment, while one of the lower
rooms served as a room for an cid
lady named Flynn a member of
the household. ofrs si-ls-e-rstss,
On learning that some cause for
alarm reallyexisted, Mr.. B. arose,
and grasping a huge cavalry sword,
stationed himself at the window
expecting every minute to see
the ingress or attempted ingress
of some thief, and determined to
defend his freside at all hazards.
While thus waiting a sudden
crash was heard from below, and
the whole side of the house had
been jammed in, and at the same
time the old lady was heard to
scream piercingly, as if wild with
fear. According to the story, the
window and the bureau near it
were suddenly dashed into the
middle Of the room. Her hus-
band is a night watching man,
and being soon expected home, she
Shought be must have been out
drunk, and was attempting to get.
an through the window. She
sprang from her bed and seized
what she supposed to be the leg of
a. retreatins man. It haG 3 a
queer feel, however, and was
drawn outward with violence, and
the old lady having advanced
close to the shattered window, saw
to her horror the towering bulk
of an enormous elephant. Una
BILE to overcome the shock, she
fell almost insensible to the floor.
At this stage of affairs, Mr.. B.,
with his,drawnsabre,- started to
the rescue. The stairs leading
below are on the outside of the
house, and as he descended he en-
countered the elephant, who APP
peared determined 20 ascend the
steps. A few blows of the steel
blade on the trunk cowed the
huge brute and he commenced a
retreat. He backed out of the
yard and took northwardly
course until he arrived at the sa-
loon owned By Charles Schaffner,
at which place he stopped, took
q general observation of the sur
roundings, then making a desper.
ate charge, he shivered a large
door to atoms. This last affair
was the close of his damage. He
wandered off through the silent
streets and at daylight was foun1
near the Southern depot, deak,
having, it is said; died from The
effects of the cold. The explana-
tion of the business was SOON as.
certained. The elephant belong.
ed,to menagerie, which was GO
ing east on. the Vandalia railroad.
The elephant was left at dark by
the keeper in arailroad car, being,
as be supposed, securely locked in.
Daring the night, however, he
broke the chain which fastened
bis leg, tore down the door, and
started on his voyage of death.
He was an immense brute, and
his carcass was viewedwith intense
curiosity by the citizens during
the day.. 1t is said that the orig.
inal cost of the animal was nearly
$5. 0OO.-& Louis Republican.
Cobb, Ghristy g. Co.., of
bloomington, ~, have obtain