Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-27

Elephant Fight.
TIE Piedmont Virginlan gives the following
particulars Of the elephant fight, telegraphic
mention OF which was made n couple of weeks
ago:
A rather exciting scene (not set down 10 tho
bills of Old John Robinson's Crcus) occurred
while travelling en- route to Louisa q. ii. The
belligercnts, Chief Princess. Mary aud Bis
marck, wero tho actors and actresses in the
"Iittle difficulty" It had been apparent to
Mr.. King (heir keeper and several Older
attaches of tho Show. that trouble was breW'
ing, the two factors, Mary aud Chief, Aslatit,
on ono side, and Bismarck and Princess, Atil-
can on the other. The deuoument occurred
while crossing the South Anna river on
| bridge; tho elephants crossing IN the follow
| ing order: Princess, first; Mary second; Bis
marck, third, and Chief bringing up the rear
of the squad, the other elephants not being
allowed to come on the bridge at the sams
time on account of its apparent weakness.
their weight being 20 tons. About midway
| of the bridge Chief became unmanageablc, and
| despite the most indctatgable efforts of MIR.
King, with hook and spear, made fearful on
! slaught on Bismarck. and such was its force
| that he was knocked head foremost into the
| river. As the water was very deep he sustain
ed no Injury from his fall !; but when ne res,
| to the surface be emitted from his tl'xIb!e
| trumpet such an unearthly blast that 1t
| was heard for miles up and down the
| river. And then q scene commenced
| which is perfectly indescrl rlbable. The e'c'
plants on the other side rushed into the rive!
to the assistance of Bismarck. Chief ran OIL
! the end of the bridge and into the river, where
raI.> .>,,flI nd }nr
Emperor, ian Indian animal got to Bismarck
about tie ga nc time that Chief did, and then
trunk to trunk contest commenced which beg,
CARS description They fought right 90 top Oh
| Bismarck, who did not come to tue surface Tor
| 10 or Is seconds. At this juncture RadJak,
Whoodah and Caliph came up and the hght
| became general. Bismarck gradually worked
himself up to the shore, but the banks beng so
muddy, and he being 80 weak, he sank ID thc
mud completely begged and perfect ~ helpless.
Just then Mary, together with Princess who
| had been passive spectators Of the trouble,
sounded their horns and pitched 10. They
made short work OF it, and soon put the rest to
flight. They then with almost human lntelIl-
| pence, turned their attention to old Bismarck,
| who still was begged and helpless; Mary put
| her tusks under bis back, and with the assist
apcc Of Princess, succeeded 10 getting him tote
sitting posture. MIR. John +. Roblnso1, IT.,
with all the managers, canVassmen, grocms,
| performers apd musicians, with rope aud BLOCK
| and tackle, came on the scene at this tlmc ana
| after two hours hard work succeeded 10 getting
| old Bismarck on dry land. Chief and MARY
| were bound together with chalns, aad although
| they locked daggers at one another tney could
not hurt themselves or any OF the herd.
! Ia this manucr they were marched lnto town.
III h,t nj
! old fire still Gashed from his eyes. Mr.. Robin.
son saw that more punishment was nee 2ssary to
| make him perfectly tractable Hcordered him
| to be taken down into thlcket, where being
/ nroperly secured, he was beaten until ne cried
enough /. e., blew his horn like good tcllov.
! He chen walked to his quarters as meek as the
1 histcs;s,l little lamb that followed little Mary.
CASTING HIS BREAD UpoN TIE WATERS.
IA North Carolina paper says We have
tobacconists in ReidsvilIc. They are up TO
snuff. One was in Greenvi.ls, Tenn., SONIC
time since, cod orders were dull, and he found
/ himself with but Gao bare ten dollar Dill 10 hia
! pocket. 1t was fresh. green, pretty thing,
| and was all he had. The nezt day was Sunday,
1 and he Inquired for the principal church, and
Wpot to the Presbyterian, walked solemnIy
down the aisle aud took seat IN toe amen cor
uer. The hat passed around. lie deliberately
( took ont the ten dollar bill and unlc1ded IL ana
| dropped it in the hat.
A voung ;uan sitting by him nudgcd him.
Didn't vox make mistake = nc WINS
pered. , ,,.,
| is. -, ,,
"That was ten doilsl bill you put in.'
"That was what took t. Tor.
you're pretty LIBERAL
Dunno, 20 use 10 going 70 o::'uroh unless
you give something"
The whispering ceased and both settle>1 down
|. to Join n the singing Of the hymn. The nc1xt
day business opened in G.eepville for that to"
bacconist He was over run with orders The
young man ho sat by happened to be the son
OF prominent tobacconist who was Presby
teran elder, and it is we'll known that the Pes
bytcria1s always rally around tic man who IL
liberal with his money to the cause. Rcdsv!llc
has had a good run on the Greenvi!le market
ever sioce. The old elders shut their eyes and
20 to sleep Oh qud OF Rcidsvillc tobacco.
"HoLD TIE FORT" ."-Egerybody sings
"Hod the Fott," but few know the origin Of
the remarkable song. Tho Chicago Inter
Ocean gives the following
There was fort at Altoona, about cigh
teen miles from Kenesaw Mountain, which was
being badly pressed by the Confederate forces.
When Sherman reached Kencsaw he signalcd
to Altoona, which was commanded by General
Corse, Hold the fort, for am coming. The
message was seen aud read by the men at the
fort, and as reply was necessary General!
Corsc ordered young officer standing near to
send the reply-'Wavo the answer back to
Sherman that we hold the fort. 1t was easy to
order, but while the bu lis were flying thick
aid fss. several members Of the signal corps
declined to signal. until Gen. Corse was i'm
patient when the young officer referred to
, above grasped the flag, mounted the daogerouS,