Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-29
ELEPHANT "RoMEo" DEAD.

ebrated performing elephant "Romeo,
the largest and most valuable Of his
species ever brought to this country,
and more famous than any who have
gone before him. Without ali elephant
the most extensive of menageries would
be regarded as n total failure and in the
possession of Romeo" Adam Forepaugh
has for years been enyied among show.
men.
The animal had been ailing for seye
raj weeks, the disease being located in
his fore feet, which from some unknown
cause. had become affected with inila-
nation, resulting in acute pain and
general debiltation of the system, the
effect OF which had been noticed 10y
rapid wasting of flesh. On Tuesday
last it was determined to have an ope-
ration performed on "Romeo's fect,and
DR.. Boyde, of the Chicago Medical Col
lcrc. was entrusted with the under
taking. An examination developed tue
fact that numerous small bones of the
feet had been broken, detached, aud
dead, and accordingly these bones were
cut all out, the process being accompa-
MED bv the loss of several gallons of
blood No danger on this account WAS
anticipated, and 1t Is believed that tho
death of the patient was not FASTENED
from this cause, rs 10 an elephant the
loss OF a couple buckets of blood would
be about equivalent TO IN ordinary at
tack OF nose bleed on the part OF one ot
the human kind.
1t was observed that Romeo" was
suffering the most acute pain, and 1t al
SO became apparent that the inhamma-
ton was rapidly extending upward to-
ward the breast For the first time IN
two weeks he laid down on Thursday
night his Sym,nmS of distress being SO
marked as to convince Mr.. Foropaugh
that he was about 10 lose the most val
liable feature of his show. Early on
Friday morning the proprietor visited
the menagerie tent, and found "Romeo
lying in the same position, his colossal
tanks hcaying with quick short gaSps,
his eve fixed aud tlmy, and the further
extremity of the trunk cold and pulse
less. The sound of Mr.. Forepaughs
voice calling him by name WAS recog-
uil.d by the dying mastodon, and he
attempted TO raise his head IN response
to the touch of his owners hand, but his
strength was departed his life was ebb-
ing last, his head dropped back upon
the ground, and after few weak, con.
yulsiye struggles, he had ceased To
breathe, and all that remained oi "Ro.
mco" WAS monstrous heap OF inanI-
mate flesh.
The circumstances occasioned q pro
found sensation among the attaches of
the show, who gathered about the spot
and sorrowfully surveyed the huge car
cass. Aside from the great financial
loss-es,imatcd at S50,O00-hc had
sustained, Mr.. Forepaugh was deeply
moved by the catastrOphe,a as no regard
cd "Romco" as the most valuable ele-
plant in existence, attrlbutlng TO him
degree Of intelligence almost human.
He had made study of the animals
peculiarities of disposition, and had
succeeded in establishing tho most al
fcctionate relation with him. why
| dash it. said the great Snowman, With
a curious quiyer Of the voice, and sus
picious ayertion OF the head, "ho know
more than any trained horse | ever
owned. He knew he wasn't right these
last few weeks, aud when Id 60 up to
him and say, "llow do you get along,
old fellow he'd reach out his trunk
and take my hand and put it on his
forelegs, as much AZ TO say, "There 1t
hurts me cant you do something 10
help 1t =
And then the disconsolate proprietor
went on TO cnumerate "ltomeo's" shin
ing qualities how he would do any
conceivable trick in the ring-stand on
his forelegs or hindlegs, ,turn on pivot,
waltz 90 lame, kncel down, walk over
his keepers body, taking the incest caro-
not 10 touch shred Of bis clothing
with his pondcrOus ioot-in short, do
anything which you could possibly think
of asking an elephant to do ; how, when
the wagons would get stuck in the mud,
old Romeo, with the power Of a hun
dred horses would get behind and push
them along with the greatest Of ease ,
how. when he was sulky and savage and
they had thrown him down upon his
side, he would lay there day or two
before he would give up, but finally
would weaken, and with his pleading
eyes fairly beg 10 be rleased--aud 40
on with volume Of interesting remi
niSccnces
"sorncO" has Al cyentful history, hay-
ing killed five keepers since his advent
in America, besides destroying any
number Of fences, barns, garden patch
IS, corn fields, orchards, etc. lie was
purchased by an agent Of J. Mabic, in
Calcutta, about twenty FIVE year. ago,
having been taken from n brick yard
where he was being used in grinding
clay. The price paid for him was sl0,
OOj in gold, and he was brought 20
America along with nine others. In
1852, while south Of New Orleans, he
killed bis keeper, known as along
John" whose successor, "Frenchy viii
liams, shared the same fate near HotS-
ton, Texas, in 1853 A third, Stewart
Craven, was killed in 1850 near Cedar
Rapids, Iowa the fourth, Bill vii
liams, was sent TO his last account in
Philadelphia, in 1867, and the fifth,
named MDevitt, in Ohio, in 1869, com
pleted the list of "Romeos" victims.
Tho bo1v baa he..n donated Lv Ar