The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-23
An Elephant Fight in Virginia.

A rather exciting scene occurred
while the circus was travelling en- route
to Louisa Courthouse. The belliger-
ents, Chief, Princess, Mary and Bis
marck, were the actors and actresses in
the ''little difficulty" 1t had been APP
parent to Mr.. King (their keeper) and
several older attaches of the show that
trouble was brewing, the two factors,
Mary and Chief (Asiatic) on one side,
and Bismarck and Princess (African)
on the other. The denouement oc-
Cured while crossing the South Anna
River, on a bridge; the elephants cross
ing in the following order: Princess
first, Mary second, Bismarck third and
Chief bringing up in the ear of the
squad, the elephants not being allowed
TO come on the bridge at the same time
on account of its apparent weakness,
their weight being twenty tons. About
midway of the bridge Chief became I'M
manageable, and, despite the efforts of
Nh. King, with hook and spear, made
a fearful onslaught on Bismarck; and
such was its force that he vas knocked
head foremost into the river. As the
water was very deep, he sustained
no injury from the fall, but when
he rose to the surface he emitted
from his flexible trumpet such an UNI
earthly blast that it was heard for
miles up and down the river. And
then a scene commenced which is indie
scribable. The elephants on the other
side rushed into the river to the assist
ance of Bismarck. Chief ran off the
end of the bridge and into the river,
where he renewed the contest with re-
doubled fury. Emperor Gan Indian
animaD gotto Bismarck about the same
time that Chief did, and then a trunk
tO-trunk contest commenced which beg
gars description. They fought right on
top of Bismarck, who did not come to the
surface for ten or fifteen seconds. At
this juncture Radjak, Whoodah and
Caliph came up, and the fight became
general. Bismarck gradually worked
himself up to the shore, but the banks
being muddy, and he being weak, he
sank in the mud completely begged and
perfectly helpless. Just then Mary,
together with Princess, who had been
passive spectators of the trouble, sound
ed their horns and pitched in. They
made short work of it. and soon put
the rest to fight. They then, with al
most humane intelligence, turned their
attention to old Bismarck. Mary put
tusks under his back, and, with the as
.sistance Of Princess, succeeded in get
ting him into q sitting posture. Mr..
John F. Robinson, Jr., with all the
canvas-men, grooms, per-
formers and musicians, with rope, and
and tackle, came on The scene.at
this time, and after two hours hard
work succeeded in getting old Bismarck
on dry land. Chief and Mary were
bound together with chains, and al
though they looked daggers at one
another, they could not hurt themselves
any of the herd. In this manner
they were marched into town. Chief
conquered. but not subdued, and
the old fire still flashed from his eyes.
Mr.. Robinson saw that more punish
ment wat necessary to make him per-
fectly tractable. He ordered him to be
taken down into q thicket, where, being
properly secured, he vas beaten until
he cried enough-that is, blew his horn
like . good fellow He then walked to
his quarters as meek as the historical
lamb that followed Mary.-hed-
Nyginids.
BUyTzRrNa win exhibit It's presence By fhs
cries Of the baby, and should Be- removed N
re prompt use d that highly-recommended
remedy, Dr. Bulls Baby Syrup. Il Il free from
Opium Rriee. = centa.
/