The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-03-14
NO. 40.
Exciting Scene in a Menagerie.


On Friday morning, Feb. 23d, Mr..
George Forepaugh, keeper of the cele.
brated elephant Romeo, who is known to
be the most vicious animnl ever publicly
exhibited, and whose title among show
men is the champion maGkiller," enter
ed the building, at the corner of twenty
second aud Bolton streets, Philadalphia,
as usual, to attend to the wants OF the
huge pet. The brute was apparently in
the best o! moods, and Mr. Forepaugh ap-
pretended no danger. However this
fancied security, while peering through
an aperture at the performance of some
members of the troupe who were exercis-
ing in the ring attached to the building,
Mr.. Forepaugh was reminded of Romeo's
presence and dangerous instincts by be-
ing encircled in the coils of the trunk Of
the animal Ia an instant the unlucky
man was hurled through the air with
tremendous force, in his ascent reaching
the roof Of the stable. Fortunately be
fell on pile of blankets. But he was
now in more imminent danger than ever
directly under the feet and com pletely
in the power of the infuriated beast. a
single tramp, one blow from the terrible
trunk, and be was dead man. La this
perious situation, with the weapon of the
treacherous animal raised to deliver the
fatal blow, relief came from Mr.. Charles
Forepaugh, who was in the rear part of
the stable
With rare presence Of mind and un-
usual courage the man seized an immense
pitchfork, with which Romeo is occasional
~ tanned into submission, and dealt the
mad monster thrust after thrust. Writh-
with pain the brute turned upon his as
sailant, but his chains prevented him from
reaching him. Howling with rage he
cssayed to deal the new conner deadly
blow, but alert and alert and active, this
gentleman continued his merciless thrusts
until the fanks of the beast streamed
with blood. All the time Mr.. George
Forepaugh was crawling further aud fur
ther away from his position. He was
painfully bruised, and moved slowly and
cautiously away, but finally succeeded in
reaching the middle of the floor and
place of safety. Other assistance then
came, and additional chains were thrown
around the feet of Romeo, and he was
made perfectly secure, but he continued
to show signs of rage for some time, aud
his keeper says that the fit may last on
him for several days.
Romeo is kept chained BY the legs in
stable adjoining the department appro-
priated to the cages that contain the lions,
tigers, panthers, &c, and in one portion
of this stable the performing horses have
their stalls. This stable is divided from
what is called the performing or practice
ring by a wooden partition, and the ele-
plant Is confined 10 corner or augle of
the stable in such manner that he faces
the PARTITION that separates the ring from
the stable.
Not year ago, in country village in
Ohio, this animal killed mau and de-
stroyed house or two.
y few years back, when she establish
ment at Tenth and Callowhill streets,
Philadelphia, was used as circus, he de-
molished Que of the walls and assaulted
some half dozen people. Two years ago,
while quartered for the Winter near Ger
mautown, he got into one of his sulky
moods, and when approached by his keep
er he seized the unfortunate man with his
trunk, tossed him into the air, and then
placing the liIeless bod y under his feet,
trampled 1t into shapeless mass.
After oyerturning few cages he was
finally brought under subsection when
briSkly piled with thrusts from harpoou
or other sharp instrument. He is a dan
gerous animal, and it is about time he
was killed.