The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-07-22
A SCENE UNPARALLELED.

A RHINocERos ON sTEA1BoAT-HE
CHALLENGES AN ELEPHANT TO NOR
TAI COMBAT = ANNALS. CAGES,
HORSES AND MEN KNOCKED OVER
BOARD!
Last week. as the mammoth fleet
Of steamers employed TO transport
old John Robinson's Great World
Exposition, approached the landing
at Wyandotte. situated on the bank
of the Ohio river, in West Virginia,
an unusual commotion was observed
to take place on board the flagship
9 Erie, No. 8. 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, screech-
es, yells and howls, as if all the in
mates Of pandemonium were let
loose.
The good people on shore were IN
able to make out the meaning and
strange behavior of those on the
steamers, but, surmising that every
thing was not right among the ami
mails 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 the land, and quickly fed to
their homes. In the meantime, Com
modore John f. Robinson hoisted
signals of distress. which were quick
ly responded to by the steamer
Champion, Captain @. N. Robinson,
also the steamer Argosy, Captain
james Robinson, who ranged along
side the Erie, and were informed
that an awful battly was raging be
tween the huge double horned rhi-
noceros and the monster war ele-
phant, Old Emperor. 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
combatants.
As they reached that portion of
the main deck just off the boilers, a
horribly siclzening sight met their
view. Wounded. lying where they
had been stricken down by the ter
rible brutes dead, wounded and dy.
ing horses and ponies strewed the
deck in every direction cages de-
stroyed and literally smashed into
fragments were scattered among the
dead, wounded and dying, and the
terrible din, shrieks, grunts and
groans plainly told them tl4at the
battle was still raging. A total de-
struction of almost every cage on the
boat seemed imminent. All efforts
proved unayailing to separate the
savage denizens of the forest. At
this juncture q lalge crash was heard
and the two cages containing the
monster lions and the Labrador
seals were driven overheard.
The veteran Snowman was as cool
and collected as q man could be un-
der these circumstances, when his
property was going to destruction
every moment by thousands of dol.
lars. Not SO with manager John +.
Robinson, Jr., for when he saw his
favoriteI seals and sea-lions being
dashed overheard he cried: "Boys,
] can't stand this, and we might as
we'll attempt to kill one of these
brutes before they. ruin every cage
on the boat" He then ordered to
fire upon them, and heavy velley
was discharged, which had no moro
effect on the now thoroughly aroused
and frightened monsters than to
cause them to fight with more fury
than before. The situation was get
| ting each. moment more dangerous
for all on board, and the MANAGERS
despaired of all hope, when it occur
ed to manager John to open the
steam pipes and deluge them with
steam.
The engineer quickly turned on
the steam, and as it suddenly escap.
ed from the boiler with a terrific roar,
q shrill screech was heard from the
elephant, such as they always utter
in crying for mercy when conquered
| in their native Wilds. Whether the
elephant had received its death blow
from the rllinoceros or was frigbten-
ed into submission by the steam,
| could not be ascertained until the
steam cleared away, which it did in
few moments, disclosing to the as
tonished gaze of the Snowman GU
rious and gratifying sight. There
lay the elephant on the deck cover
ing. trembling down, and little
farther on was the rhinoceros, snug
| Iy ensconsed in his cage, where he
had retreated when the steam was
opened upon him.
The attendants sprang forward
and closed and bolted the door of his
cage. thus securing themselves from
further molestation from him.
Five horses were found dead, as
also were three ponies, and four
more were SO badly manned and
wounded. that they were killed in
mercy, to end their pains
- -
Formal complaint having been
made to President Grant by an as
sociation here that men who could
not subscribe to the iron-clad oath
were employed in certain Govern
ment executive departments. to the
exclusion. or in preference to others
who had not given aid or comfort to
the enemy during the late unpleas-
antness, note Of Enquiry was sent