Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-04-18
A MAD ELEPHANT.
seven Men Crushed to Death by a
Ponderous Brutc---A Might I'm Hin
dOOstan.


exclaimed Major Springle, aG old In
,sian traveller. II think they are not
IL all the good-Daturned, harmless
leasts that showmcn aud grandmotl-
rrs' story books are SO fond Of repre-
.onting them to be. quite agree
with Charles ReAde when lie says, III
lis Jack Of all Trades, that they are
nurderous, treacherous brntes, full Of
vice and GINNING.
Il know very little about the Afri-
s.an elephant, but ono Of the failings
~ the Asiatic kind is that in very hot
Gather. and under severe physical
.train, he is likely to go mad--and |
san tell you mad elephant is crea-
iare that the most curious student Of
lie animals habits had better contem-
pIate from a distance.
"Mnch Of my Indian life was
,assed in the station Of Juhhulpore.
The enterprising people there resolved
to have an exhibition. Goods poured
u rapidly in bullock wagons, on cam
s-ls' backs, and 10 various other ways,
and Rajahs and other disnitaries,
with suites Of attendants, journeyed
from great distances
so far a. can remember what
am speaking Of happened il the latter
part d 1896, or early in 1867. Al
Young photographer, with whom ]
was acquainted. invited me to share
lis tent with him for week or so on
the exhibition grounds. whore he In
tended to take views, aud ! gladly
accepted the invitation.
Two nights before the exhibition
'pened we went out upon the grounds
und found them covered with tents,
and crowded with natives, who, for
ne most part. were attending upon
elephants, hullocks, camels, and horses.
It was bright, moonlight night, and
we sat smoking before the opening Of
unr tent, watching the curious scene
eiore us until nearly midnight. Then,
ne noise having gradually died away,
we retired to our beds.
u had been asleep, perhaps. about
an hour, when | was awakened bv the
i9eating OF tomstoms and the shouting
4 the natives outside. ] jumped out
4 bed aud ran to the door Of the
tent. where my friend was already
standing. An elephant, with its
lruuk appraised, and trumpeting fierce
~, was rushing among the tents, oc-
casloaally striking rope with his
loot and swapping il like a pack
thread. In front Of our tent was an
open space, aud about thirty yards
away was large tree, Beside this
rec man was standing. fhe ele-
chant, ii it had not swerved from it's
course, would have passed about TWEEN
~ yards from him; but when the
rute was nearly opposite him | saw
ne man stoop aud pick up large
NlQne. could hardly credit that he
was going to throw it. but in another
econd there was no room for doubt
hat such was his intention. called
u him, in Hindoostanee, to drop the
stone and run into the tent, but he
raid no attention 10 me Then, as the
lephant was passing, he hurled the
stone, aud struck it on the side. The
BRUTE turned quickly. saw its assail-
at, and rushed at hin. Even then,
shink. there was time for him to es-
yape If he had run for the tent, as |
gain shouted to hin to do, for though
ne brute would, undoubtedly, have
''rought the canvas down, we should,
probably, Lave all csealed in the con-
Iasion. But, turning quickly toward