The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-06-06
NUMBER 90.
A Fight Among Elephants.

The Piedmont Vlrginfan gives the
following particulars Of herce nghl
among the elephants belonging 10
travelling menAgerie: A rather exciting
scene occurred while Old John Robin
sons Circus was travelling en route 20
I,ouisa Court House. The belligerenta.
Chief. Princess, Mary and Bismarck,
were the actors and actresses IN the
little difficulty" II had been appar-
ent b Mr.. King (their keeper and sew
eral older attaches OF the show Than
trouble was brewing. the two factors
Mary aud Chief (Asiatie) on one slder
aud Bismarck and Princess (African) on
the other. The denOuement occurred
while crossing the South Anna
river, on bridge; the elephants cross
ing in the following order: Princess
first, Mary second. Bismarck third, and
Chief bringing up the rear Of the squad :
the other elephants not being allowed 70
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 un-
manageable, and despite the efforts OF
Mr.. King, with hook and spear, made
a fearful onslaught on Bismarck, and
such was its force that he was knocked
head foremost into ths river. AS the
water was very deep be sustained no m
Jury from the fall, but when be rose TO
the surface he emitted from his henble
trumpet such an unearthly blast that II
was heard for miles up and down the
river. And then a scene commenced
which is indescribable. The elephants
on the other side rushed into the riveI
10 the assistance Of Bismarck. Chiei
ran off the end Of the bridge and into
the river, where he renewed the contest
with redOubled fury. Emperor Ian In
dian animAl) got 10 Bismarck about the
same time that Chief did, and then
trunk To- trunk contest commenced
whie beggers description. They fought
right ON top Of Bismarck, who did not
come 10 the surface for ten or fifteen
seconds. At this juncture BAdlak,
Whoodah and Caliph came up, and the
fight became general. BiEmarck grad
ually worked himself up TO the shore,
but the banks being muddy, and he be-
ing weak, he sank in the mud completely
begged and perfectly helpless. just
then Mary, together with Princess, who
had been passive spectators OF the trou-
ble. sounded their horns and pitched IN.
They made short work Of IL, and soon
put the rest 20 flight. They, then, with
almost human intelligence, turned their
attention TO old Bismarck. Mary put her
tusks under his back, and with the as
sistance OF PriLcess, succeeded IN get
ting him into sitting posture. Mr..
John +. Robinson, yr., with all the
managers, canvasmen, grooms, perform
ers aud musicians, with rope and block
and tackle, came on the scene al this
time, and after two hours hard work
succeeded in getting old Bismarck on
dry land. Chief and Mary we're bound
together with chains, and although they
looked dARgers At one another they could
not hurt themselves or any OF the herd
In this maneer they were marched into
town. Chief was conquered but not
subdued, and the old IRE still flashed
from his eyes. Mr.. Robinson saw that
more punishment was necessary 10 make
him perfectly tractAble. He ordered him
10 be taken down into thieket, where.
being properly secured, he Was beaten
until he cried enough, 4. e., blew his
horn like a good fellow. be then
walked 20 his quarters As meek as the
historical little lamb that followed Mary.