The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-15
NirgiI.ia-a Elephant right.

The Piedmont Virginian gives the follow
ing particulars of the elephant fight. tels-
graphic mention of which was made a week
or two ago: "A rather exciting scene occur
red while Old john Robins0n's circus was
travelling en- route to Louisa court house.
The belligerents, Chief, Prlncess Mary and
Bismarck, were the actors and actresses in
the little difficulty 1t had been apparent
to Mr.. King-their keeper-and several old
er attaches OF the show that trouble was
brewing: the two factors, Mary and Chief
(Asiatic) on one side. and Bismarck and
The denouement occurred while crossing
the South Ann river on bridge,
the elephants crossing in the following or
der: Princess first, Mary second, Bismarck
third, and Chief bringing up the rear
of the squad, the other elephants
not being allowed to come on the
bridge at the same time on account of
twenty tons. About midway of the bridge
Chief became unmanageable, 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 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
unearthly blast that it was heard for miles
up and down the rlver. And then a scene
commenced which is indescribable. The
elephants on the other side rushed into the
river to the assistance of Bismarck. Chief
ran off the end of the bridge and into the
river, where he renewed the contest with
redoubled fury. Emperor, an Indian ami
NAL, got to Bismarck about the same time
that Chief did, and then a trunk-tO-trunk
contest commenced which beggars de
scnption. They fought right on top
of Bismarck who did not come TO the
surface for ten or fifteen seconds. At this
juncture Rsdjak, Whoodah and Ualiph 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, sounded their horns and
pitched in They made short work of it, and
soon put the rest to fight. They then, with
almost human intelligence, turned their
attention 70 old Bismarck. Mary put her
tusks under his back, AID with the assist
ance of Princess, succeeded in getting him
into a sitting posture. Mr.. John +. Robin
son, Jr.. with all the managers, canvasmen,
grooms, performers and musicians, with
rope and block 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 to-
gether with chains and, although they
looked daggers at one another. they could
not hurt themselves or any of the herd.
In this they were marched into town.
Chief was conquered, but not subdued, and
the old fire still flashed from his eyes. Mr.
Robinson saw that more punishment was
necessary to make him perfectly tractable.
He ordered him to be taken down into a
thicket, where, being properly secured, be
beaten until he cried enough that is
blew his horn like good fellow. He then
walked to his quarters as meek as the his
toricaI little lamb that followed Mary"