Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-12

event, the occurrence OF Wnlcn VIII excite ln-
,er,st in almost every city, town, or village in
America, being no less than the death of the
celebrated 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 an
elephant the most extensive of menageries
would be regarded as total failure, and in the
possession of Romeo" Adam Forepaugh has
Tor years been envied among showmen. The
animal had been aing for several weeks, the
disease being located in his fore feet, which,
from some unknown cause, had become affect
ed with inflammation, resulting in acute pain
and general debitation Of the system, the et-
feet OF which had been noticed by Il rapid vast
ing Of flesh On Tuesday last it was determined
to have an operation performed upon 10.
meos' feet and DR.. Boyd Of the Chicago
Medical College, was entrusted with the under
taking. An examination developed the fact that
numerous small bones of the feet had become
broken, detached, and dead, and accordingly
these bones were cut out, the process being ac.
companied by the loss of several gallons OF
blood No Danger on this account was antlcl
pated, and it is believed that the death OF the
patient was not fastened from this cause as
TO an elephant the loss of couple OF bukuts OF
blood would be about equivalent to an ordl-
nary attack of nose bleeding on the part of one
of the human kind. 1t was observed that
Romeo was suffering the ulost acute pain,
and it also became apparent that the lnfamnia-
ton was rapidly extending upward toward the
breast For the first time in two weeks he
laid down on Thursday night his symptoms OF
distress being SO marked as to convince MI
Forepaugh that he was about to lose the most
valuable feature Of his show. Early on Friday
morning the proprietor visited the menagerle
tent and found Romeo lying in the same po-
stion, his colossal fanks hcaving with quick,
short gasps, his eye fixed and tilmy, and the
further extremity of the trunk cold and Pulse
less The sound Of Mr.. Furcpaugh voice
calling him by name was recognized by the
dying mastodou, and he attempted to raise his
head in response to the touch of his owner 5
hand, but his strength was departed his life
was ebbng fast, his head dropped back upon
the ground, and after few weak, convulsive
struggles, he had ceased to breathe, aud all that
remained Of Romeo was monstrous heap
of inanimate flesh
The circumstance occasioned profound sen
Sation among the attaches of the show, who
gathered about the spot and Sorrowfully sur
veved the huge carcass Aside from the great
financial loss-estimated at $50,000-he had
sustained Mr.. Forepaugh was deeply moved
by the catastrophe, as he regarded Romeo
rs the most valuable elephant 10 existence, at
trbutiug to him degree ct intelligence almost
human. lie had made study Of the animals
peculiarities of disposition, and had succeeded
in establishing the most atfectiorate relations
with him. why, dash it, said the great
Snowman, with a curious quver OF the voice
and suspicious aversion of the head, he
knew more than any trained horse ever owned.
He knew he WASH right these last few weeks,
aud when Id 90 up to him and say How doyou
pet along, old fellow, he'd reach out his trunk
and take my hand and put it on his toreegs as
much as to say, There where it hurt me;can
you do something to help tY' And then tfe
disconsolate proprietor went on to enumerate
"Romeos' shining qualities; how ne would 40
any conceivable trick in the rlng-stand on MS
forelegs or his hindlegs, turn on pivot waltz
90 lame, kneel down, walk over his keeper
BODY. taking the incest care not to touch
shred of his clothing with his ponderous foot
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 hundred horses
would get behind and push them along with
the greatest of ease; how, when he was suiky
aud savage aud they had thrown him DOWN
upon his side, he would lay there day or two
before he would give up. but hnall! would
weaken, and with his pleading eyes fairly beg
to be released-and 50 on with volume OF IN
teresting "reminiscences.
Romeo has an eventful history. having
killed FIVE keepers since his advent in America,
besides DESTROYING any number OF fences, barns
Garden patches corn6eds, orchards, etc: lie
was purchased by an agent OF >. Ma6ie, 10
Calcutta, about twenty-five years ago, having
been taken from brick yard, where he was De-
inc used in grinding clay. The price paid Tor
him was $4,000 10 gold, and he was brought 1H.a
to America along with niue others. in 49,
while south of New Orleans, he Killed his keep
cr, known as Long John, whose successor
"Frenchy'' Williams shared the same tate
near Houston, Texas, in 1855: third Stewart
Craven. was killed in 1860 near Cedar Rapids
Iowa: the fourth, Bill Williams, was sent to
his last account in Philadelphia, in 1867 and the
ffth. named McDevi,t, in Ohio, in 1869, COM
nleted the list of "Romcos' s. victims In the "ln-
ter Of 1868 he made himself fdisagrccably conspie-
cuons in Chicago By tearing to pieces the build
inc in which he was coufned, on the site OF
the present City Hall, and rushing out on the
street in reckless manner, greatly to the alarm
of the inhabitants, who brought out cannon
with which to cope with the formidable mon
ster. but he was recapturcd before 1ur.hel
damage was done Similar depredations have
heen oommitted bv him in various places, and
his grim hide now bears the scarcss OF numer-
ous bullets and red hot irons used to supoue
him him HI His LETT eve was shot Quit 1868, near
Philadelphia. He was bought in 1859 M,;n'r f?r
Adam Forepaugh at an auction sale of Mable $
Menagerie, s25, 900 being the price paid lie
was held to be worth at least twice that u sun
Mr.. Forepaugh having been offered - Siuoov a, a
year for the use fhm for five years li's ws'gn.
when in full flesh, was 10, 100 pounds ana hc
stood II feet p inches high. tie was suppos.
ed by competent elephantlue chrono'ogls's -
be about one hundred years old, n.h
The BODY has been donated by Mr.. torepaugh
ed SIX keleton and stuffed skin will be placed in the
hreathed his last yesterday morning when MIR:
Forepaugh with characteristic energy, sent
telegram to his agent in New York, \ autnot1z tha
ing him to draw upon Jay Cooke y 60 TO Tue tue
-, p -.on nnn ,,d diractinp HIM TO pro