Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-29
FIGHT WITH AN ELEPHANT.

Another Thrilling MenageFie Scene
Narrow Escape of Mr. George Fore.
pauEh-"ROmeO'' Once More Ram.
pant.
From the Philadelphia Telegraph, Feb. "a.
The tiger scene at Forepaugh's menage
RE, which created such intense excitement
a few days ago, came very nearly being
eclipsed on Wednesday morning last, by a
| performance the trick elephant "ROmeO, y
which was most decidedly not down in the
bills. But for providential Intervention he
would have killed his keeper, Mr.. George
FOrepaugh, whose death would have been
the sixth caused by this viciuos brute.
The stable in which 'Romeo" is housed
is a wooden structure on the north side of
the menagerie grounds, at TWenty-secOnd
and Master streets, and Immediately adj
joins the building in which the trick horses
belonging to the circus are stabbed. On
last Wednesday morning Mr.. George Fore
paugh entered the apartment of "ROmeo"
to put him through his customary ring les
sons. Just for a moment he turned to look
through a chink In the boards at the train
ing amphitheatre, where the horses were
being exercised. This was the moment
"Romeo" was waiting for. Like flash he
extended his huge trunk, entWined it about
the body Of his keeper, and threw him up
against the roof of the stable. Fortunately
the keeper fell upon a pile of blankets,
where he lay stunned and helpless.
Now to complete the work Of death. The
long trunk was again extended and Tapped
around foot of the PROSTATE man. In
another moment be will have met the fear
full doom OveTshadOwing him. Just at this
moment Charles FOrepaugh enters, sees his
brothers danger, and utters a cry of horror
as he springs for his training-spear. Deep,
deep into the trunk of the beast goes the
iron barb, and the blood spurts out rs it is
withdrawn. Still the hold is not relaxed,
and the keeper still lies upon the graves
verge. Again and again is the shaft APP
piled, and the whole head Of "ROmeo" is
bathed in blood. He can stand the pain no
longer, and, releasing bis hold, backs against
the wall. Then inan instant Mr.. FOrepaugh
is dragged from his perilOus position. He
is considerably bruised, but beyond that
has suffered no serious injury.
This elephant is the most vicious animal
of the kind in the country. he was brought
here in 1866 by Mr.. Malbe, and purchased
after his death by Mr.. Forepaugh. He is
DeyODu all OuUS Inc DtSb ptIlUTullllt5 6IC-
plant in the country, and is for that reason
extremely valuable, or he would have been
killed long ago by reason of his malicious
fits that come upon him by spells. He has
already killed five keepers, the latest being
the case in Hatboro, in 1867, which created
such an intense excitement that all the
farmers around carried rifles with them
whenever they ventHred from home, so
great was the terror created by the antics
of "RomeO."
The five keepers killed by Ro neo are as
follows: Shortly after his arrival in this
country, and before he was brought thor
Oughly under submission, he killed an East
Indian named Weeks, who came over with
hi 4. This was his first deed of blood. The
next was the killing of the keeper Moran
while the show was exhibiting in Canada.
The next victim was Nicholas Mick, who
met his fearful doom in Missouri. After
him came "Long John Evans" killed dur
ing a summer tour of the circus in Florida.
The last, and that which lives latest in the
memory of the public, is The sad death Of
Bill Williams, alias "Canada Bill, which
occurred in Hatboro, in this State, in 1867.