Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-08-06
A Scene Unparalleled.
a RhjnOcerOs on SteanbDat-be
challenges an Elephant to mortal
COmbat-Anfma1s, CAgA. Hernas
and Men knocked overheard!

[ Last week, as the mammoth
If1eet of steamers employed to
transport old John Robinson's
Great World Exposition, ap-
Eproached the landing at Wyan-
ldotte, situated on the bank of
the Ohio river, in West Virgin
ia, an unusual commotion was
observed to take place on board
THE flagship "Erie, Nc. g."
Men, women and children were
wildly running to and fro Iranti-
cally shouting to the other steam
ers, while at the same time there
arose series of shrieks, screen
es, yells and howls, as if all the
inmates of pandemonium were
let loose.
The good people on shore were
unable.to make out the mean
ing and strange behavior 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 the land, and
quickly fled to their homes. In
the meantime, Commodore John
f. Robinson hoisted signals of
distress, which were quickly res
pOnded to by the steamer Cham
pion, Captain G. n. Robinson,
also the steamer Argosy, Cap
tain James Robinson, who ram
ged along side. the Erie, and
were informed that an awful
battle was raging between the
huge double horned rhinoceros
and the monster war elephant,
Old Emperor. The ladies and
children were quickly trans
ferred to the steamers. Champi-
on and Argosy, and then the en-
tire crew of the steamers arm
ed themselves aud went below
to endeayor to separate the
cOmbatants.
As they reached that portion of
the main deck Just off the boil
ers, a horribly sickening sight
met their view. Wounded, ly-
ing where they had beenstricken
down by the terrible brutes,
dead, wounded and dying po-
nies strewd the deck in every
direction; cages destroyed and
literally smashed into fragments
were scattered among the dead,
wounded and dying,a ,and the terri.
bic din, shrieks, grunts and
groans plainly told them that
the battle was still raging. A
total destruction of almost eve
ry cage On the boat seemed i'm
minent. All efforts proved un-
availing to separate the savage
denizenS of the forest. At this
juncture large crash was
heard and the two cages con-
tanning the two monster sea-
lions and the Labrador seals
were driven overheard.
The veteran Snowman was
as cool and collected as a man
could be under those circum-
stances, when his property was
going to destruction everysmo-
ment by the thousand dolIa9s.
Not so with manager John II.
Robinson, Jr., for when he saw
his 1avOrite seals and sea-lions
being dashed overheard be ciied:
Boys, l can't stand this, and
we might = as well attempt to
kill one of these brutes before
they ruin eiycageonthe boat"
he then ordered to fire upon
hem, and heavy volleys were
discharged, which had no more
effect on the now thoroughly
aroused and frightened monsters
han TO cause them to fight with.
more fury than before. The
was getting each mo-
nent more dangerous for all on
board, and the managers des-
paired Of all hope, when it oc-
cured to manager John to open
he steam pipes and delnge
hem with steam.
The engineer quickly turned
IN the steam, and as it sudden
y esca 9ed from the boiler with
terrific roar, a shrill screech
was heard from the elephant,
such as, they always utter in
;rylng for mercy when con-
luered in their native wilds.
Whether the elephant had re-
ceived his death blow from the
'hlnoceros or was frightened in
to submission by the steam,
could not be ascertained until
the steam cleared away, which
it did in a few moments, dis
closing to the astonished gaze
of the Snowman a curious and
gratifying sight. There lay the