Connecticut western news., 1874-07-03
An Awful Death Struggle.

Every season when he starts out, J John l Robinson hires some reporter to tell bigger l story for him than was told the year before. l The Indianapolis Herald has just tried it. with the following result We give place to his yarn in order to show what Western reporter can do when paid for it:
 As the steamers employed to transport old Robinson's show approached the landing at Wyandotte, an unusual commotion was ob- served to take place on board the Erie No. 9. Men, women, and children were wildly running to and fro, frantically shouting to the other steamers, while at the same time there arose series of shrieks, screeches, yells, and howls, as if all the inmates of pandemonium were being let loose. The good people on shore were unable to make out the meaning and strange behavior ot those on the steamers but surmising that everything was not right among the animals in the menagerie, they very quickly con cluded that the open levec 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 people were informed that an awful battle was raging between the huge double-horned rhinoceros and the war elephant, Old Emperor. The ladies and children were quickly transferred to the steamers Champion and Argosy, and
 
 armed themselves and went below to en- deavor to separate the combatants. As they reached that portion of the main deck just eff the boilers, horribly sickening sight met their view. Wounded, bleeding, and fearfully lacerated men were lying where they had been stricken down by the terrible brutes; dead, wounded, and dying horses and ponies strewed the deck ill every direc- tion cages destroyed and literally smashed into fragments were scattered among the dead, wounded, and dying, and the terrible din, shrieks, grunts and groans plainly told them that the battle was still iercely raging. A total destruction of almost every cage on the boat seemed imminent All efforts proved unavailing to separate the savage denizens of the forest. At this juncture a loud crash was heard, and the two cages containing the monster sea lions and the beautiful Labrador seals were driven over board as though they had been mere toy wagons for children. The veteran snowman was as cool and collected as it was possible for man to be under those circumstances, when his property was going to destruction every moment by thousands of dollars. Not SO, however, with Manager John F. Robin son, Jr., for when he saw his favorites, sea lions and seals, being dashed overheard without mercy, he said, Boys, l can't stand this any longer, and we might as well at | .ompt to kill one of those brutes before they
 uin 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 frightened monsters than to cause them to fight with more fury than before.
 The situation was getting each momenr more dangerous for all on board, and the proprietors were in despair of all hope, when it occurred to Manager John F. Rob- inson to open the steam pipes and deluge | them with steam, and no sooner thought ot than put into execution. The engineer quickly turned on the steam, and as it sud- denly escaped from the boilers with a ter rife roar, shrill trumepting screech was heard from the elephant, such an they al ways utter in crying for mercy when con- quered in their native wilds. Whether the animal had received its death blow from the rhinoceros or was frightened into submis- sion by the steam could not be ascertained until it had cleared away, which it did ill a few minutes, disclosing to the astonlshed gaze of the snowman 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 rhinoce- ros snugly ensconced in his cage, quaking and shivering with fear, where he had re treated the instant the steam was opened up on him. The attendants sprang quickly forward, and closed and bolted the door oi his cage, thus securing themselves from fur. ther molestation from him. Heavy chains were fastened around the elephant, and he was firmly bound down to the deck, and then their attention was turned to the wounded and dying. One poor fellow was found hor- ribly mutilated, lying under the debris of 8 broken cage, with both legs broken and his skull fractured. He is in very dangerous condition. Another was found with a frac ture caused by flying splinter from one ot the broken cages; two more had each ar arm broken, and another is suffering from internal in juries. MT. Robinson drew z long breath of relief when he found none O. his men were killed outright, for he hac expected nothing less than the death O some of his most faithful employees, wei knowing that they would protect his proper ty at the risk of their lives.
 Five horses were found killed, as also were three ponies, and four msre were so badly maimed and wounded that were they killed in mercy, to end their suffering.