The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-06-30
A Battle between an Elephant and Rhine
eeros.
A Terrible Fight.


steamers employed to transport old John
Robinsons great world exposition ap-
preached the landing at Wyandotte, sit
uated on the banks of the Ohio river, in
Western Virginia, an unusual commotion
was observed on board the flagship Erie,
No. 0. Men, women and children were
wildly running to and fro frantically shout
ing to the other steamers, while at the
same time there arose series of shrieks,
screeches, yells and howls, as if all the in
mates of pandemonium were being let
loose.
"The good people on shore were unable
to make out the meaning and strange be-
havior of those on the steamers, but sur
missing that everything was not right
among the animals in the menagerie they
very quickly concluded that the open
levee was no place for them, should any of
the ferocious monsters make their way to
land and quickly fled to their homes. In
the meantime Commodore John f. Robin
son hoisted signals of distress, which were
quickly responded to by the steamer Cham
pion, Captain G. N. Robinson, and also the
steamer Argrosy, Captain James Robinson,
who ranged alongside the Erie, and were
informed that an awful battle was raging
between the huge double horned rhinoceros
and the monster war elephant, Old Empe-
ror. The ladies and children were quickly
transferred to the steamers Champion and
Argosy, and then the entire crews of the
three steamers armed themselves and went
below to endeavor to separate the combat
ants.
GAS they reached that portion of the
main deck just off the boilers, horribly
sickening sight met their vew Wounded,
bleeding and horribly lacerated men were
lying where they had been stricken down
by the terrible brutes; dead, wounded and
dying horses and ponies strewed the deck
in every direction cages destroyed and
literally mashed into fragments were scat
tered among the dead, wounded, dying,
and the terrible din, shrieks, grunts and
groans plainly told them that the battle
was still fiercely raging. A total destruc-
tion of almost every cage on the boat
seemed imminent. All efforts proved una
vailing to separate the savage denizens of
the forest. At this iuncture loud crash
was heard and the two cages containing the
monster sea lions and the Labrador seals
were driven overheard.
"The veteran Snowman was as cool and
collected as it was possible for man to be
under these circumstances, when his prop
erty was going to destruction every mo-
ment by thousands of dollars Not so, how
ever, with Manager John f. Robinson, Jr,
for when ne saw his favorites, sea lions
and seals, being dashed overheard without
mercy he said Boys can't stand this
any longer, and we might as well try to
kill one of these brutes before they ruin
every cage on the boat He then gave
orders to fire upon them, and heavy volley
was discharged, which had no more effect
on the now thoroughly aroused and fright
ened monsters than to cause them to fight
with more fury than before. The situa-
tion was getting each moment more dam
gerous for all on board, and the proprietors
were in despair of all hope, wien it oc-
CURED to Manager John f. Robinson to
open the steam pipes and deluge them
with steam
"The engineer quickly turned ON the
steam, aud as it suddenly escaped from
the boilers with a terrific roar, a shrill
trumpeting screech was heard from the
elephant, such as they always utter in cry
ing for mercy when conquered in their
native wilds Whether the animal had
received its death blow from the rhinocer-
Os or was frightened into submission by
the steam, could not be ascertained until it
cleared away, which it did in few mo-
ments, disclosing to the astonished gaze of
the showmen a curious and at the same
time gratifying sight. There lay the
huge elephant upon the deck, covering
trembling down, uttering moans of pain
and fright, while little beyond was the
rhinoceros snugly ensconced in his cage,
quaking and shiverng with fear, where
he had retreated the instant the steam was
upon him. The attendants sprang quickly
forward and closed the door of his cage,
thus securing themselves from further
molestation from him.
Five horses were found killed, as also
were three ponies, and four more we're so
badly MANNED and wounded, that they
were killed in mercy, to end their suffer
ing"
Foot Cut of by Moving Machine.