The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-24
TRAINING A RHINoCERoUs.
Frightful Scene in q Menagerie at
Red Bird Ill.
Two Wen Killed and seven severely In
tured.

n NnlcAro lihicci aug. ~
BLooNINGT0N, Ill, Aug. 13.-lmmedi-
ately after the afternoon entertainment OF
Warner 4 Co.'S shows, which exhibited in
the town Of Red Bird, H., on Saturday,
Aug. 10, a scene not pictured OH the bulle-
tine boards or laid down III the programme
occurred. For some time past an effort
has been made To introduce the big 5000
pound rhinoceros into the ring, and per
form him in the circus department as an
additional feature to their elegant arenic
entertainment Some days previous they
succeeded i'll fastening a ring into the
brutes nose which is spoken Of, in that
useful ancient history, as the animal
that drlnketh up a river, etc, by which
light wire cord or cable could be attached,
and il was expected that the movement OF
the 9 BehemOth or unicorn OF Holy
Writ might be goverened and educated
up I" the proper stapdard and taught to
do anything to beat Grant. Now 1t
Sc med that this was not Greeley Khl-
noceros. and he did not take well 10 the
new departure, when he was led forth into
the arena from his huge den, although at
first submitting quietly, which caused
Manager Warner to chuckle over what he
thought would be an easy victory. Two
wire ropes were fastened to the ring In
Mr.. Rhinoceros nose, 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, evidently
making up his mind. like George Francis
Train. to "smash rings and break some
thing" generally and particularly. One
grunt, and he started, plunging and lung
ing, this way and that way, until the earth
fairly shook nnder his feet, convincing the
neighbOrhoOd sceptics that the anticipated
and much dreaded coment had arrived ~
hours in advance Of the advertised time.
The bystanders, OF which there were
many, becoming alarmed, hurried to the
topmost Of the seats, expecting TO be safe
| from the animals fury, little imagining
that this monster with one lunge Of his
ponderous body could topple over tower
! ING seats which looked so strong and Sc
cure The men shouted and yelled at him,
which only seemed to increase the excited
brutes madness, alarm the balance OF the
animals, birds and monkeys, until there
arose sucn uln Vi Honls, SSAOens eaAu
gatherings, that one would suppose thai
the entire menagerie had been let loose
Even the big elephant Empress sounded
her trumpet, and curled her trunk ovel
her head, evidentcy preparing for the aP
proaching conflict The rhinoceros finally
escaped, the ring tearing out from hi
nose, and he rushed forward, cOnquerinl
and to conquer. As he broke away, b
tramped on John Gillen, q canvasman
crushing his breast in and killing hin
instantly, then run his snout |or nos
against Martin Ready, another canvasman
/ striking him in the stomach, ripping hi
entire intestines out, and killing him a
most instantly then moving in the d
/ rectiOn of the seats, he succeeded I
| knocking down Is lengths, dislocating tn
? shoulder of Erastus Mead, boss canvas