River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-08-30
TRAINING A RHINOCEROS.

Frightfal Scene In n Menaserie-FataiA At
tempt to Introduce n Rhin0ceros into the
Ring-TwO Men Killed and Several In
jured.
Warmers circus gave an exhibition at
Red Bud, ILL.,, short time since, and a
scene not pictured on the bulletin
boards or laid down in the programme
occurred. On this occasion an effort
was made to introduce the big 5000.
pound rhinoceros into the ring, and per.
form him in the circus department as
an additional feature to the arenic en-.
tainment. A ring had been fastened
in the brute's nose, to which two wire
ropes were secured, and "a stalwart
canvas.men and drivers to each cord
was deemed sufficient to fully control
the brute and hold him steady. They,
however, had reckoned without their
host, and the moment he reached the
sawdust arena, he threw up his snout
and stopped. One, grunt, and he start
ed, plunging and lunging this way and
that way until the earth fairly shook
under his feet. The men shouted and
yelled at him, which only seemed to in.
crease the excited brute's madness,
alarm the balance of the animals, birds
and monkeys, until there arose such a
din of howls, screams and gatherings,
that one would suppose that the entire
menagerie had been let loose. Even
the big elephant Empress sounded her
trumphet, and curled her trunk over
her head, evidently preparing for the
approaching conflict. The rhinoceros
finally escaped, the ring tearing out
from his nose, and he rushed forward,
conquering and to conquer. AS he
broke away, he tramped on John Gil.
len, a canvas-man, crushing his breast
in and killing him instantly, then run
his snout or nose against Martin Ready,
another canvas.man, striking him in
the stomach, ripping his entire intes-
tines out, and killing him almost in
stantly: then moving in the direction
of the seats, he succeeded in knocking
down Is lengths, dislocating the should
er of Erastus Mead, boss canvas-man,
and breaking the arm of Shadrack Rus
sell, and also severely bruising several
others. Then, running into the men.
agerie tent, he upset Forepaugh's den
of performing animals, which, in going
over, struck Forepaugh, cutting severe
cash in his head. Then the trouble
seemed TO have commenced. Mr..
Rhinoceros made a carom on the center
pole, and down it went with a crash,
knocking the top off of the Bengal tiger
and leopard's cage, but not enough to
enable them to escape, although the
excitement was doubled by the cry that
the lions and tigers were loose, and a
general stampede followed. The ele-
plant seemed to be the next object of
attack, and the rhinoceros rushed for
the big Empress, who seemed to have
made ready for the charge. He stop
ped suddenly as if to say, the elephant
was too many for him, and that he
would omit that pant of the contract.
Then taking fresh courage, he ran into
the museum tent, knocking the wax
statuary of Jim Fisk, Jr., Stokes, and
the blooming Josie and her "Dolly
Warden" out of time, and sent the rep.
resentation of the "Last Supper" to
grass, upset three cages of curiosities,
and then left the museum tent, appar-
emily in disgust, carrying with him sew
eral hundred yards of canvas, which
comprised the wall or sides of the mu-
scum tent. He then without further
damage brought up into vacant build.
ing, about one block from the grounds,
the door of which fortunately was off
its hinges, and where he was finally Sc
cured, his cage backed up to the open.
ing, and forced to return to the narrow
limits of his iron-bound carriage. The
damage done the show was about $4,000.