, 1879-03-23
A MAD ELEPHANT.
Seven Men Crushed to Death by Ponder.
Gus Brute-A Night in Hinlostan.

Seven Men Crushed to Death by q Ponder
GUS Brute-tA Night in Hindostan.
Eew York Sun.
II hate an elephant'' energettcally exclaimed
Mai. Springle, an old Indian traveller. II think
they are not at all the good-natured, harmless
beasts that showmcn and grandmothers' story
books are SO fond Of representing them to be- [
quite agrec with Charles Reade when he says,
in his Jack OF All Trades that they are muir
derous. treacherous brutes, full Of vice and cum
ming.
II know very little about the African e1e-
plant, but one of the faiings Of the Asiatic kind
is that in very hot weather, and under severe
physical strain. he is very likely to go mad-and
! can tell you a mad elephant is creature that
the most curious student OF the animals habits
had better contemplate from distance.
"Mueh OF my Indian life was passed in the
Station OF Jp bbulpore. The euterprising people
there resolved to have an exhibition. Goods
poured in rapidly In bullock wagons. On camels'
backs, aud in various other Ways, and Kaiahs
and other Indian dignisaries, with suites Of
attendants, jourDeycd from great distances.
$50 far as can remember, what am speak
ing OF happened in the Atter part of 1861 or
early in lSG7. 4 young photographer, with
whom wss acquainted, invited me to share his
tent with hin for week or so on the E1h1bl-
tion grounds, where he intended to take Views,
and gladly accepted the invitation.
ssTwo nights before the Exhibition opened
we went out upon the grounds and found them
covered with tents and crowded with natives,
who, for the most part, were attending upon
elephants, bullocks, camels, and horses. It was
bright moonlight night, and ne sat smoking
before the opening OF our tent, watching the
curious scene before us until near midnight.
Then, the noise having gradually died away, ne
retired to our beds.
Apf1 hanr arhn otr hans
when was awakened BY the beating OF tom
toms and the shouting Of the natives outside.
jumped out OF bed and ran to the door OF the
tent, where my friend WAS already standing.
An elephant, with its trunk appraised, and trun-
peting iercey, was rushing among the tents,
occasionally striking rope with his foot and
swapping it like d pack thread. In front Of our
tent was an open space. and about thirty yards
away was large tree. Beside this tree man
Bas standing. The elephant, If it had not
about twenty yards from, him; but when the
brute was nearly opposite him saw the man
stoop and pick up large stone. l could hardly
credit that he was going to throw it.
but in another second there was no room for
doubt that such was his intention. / called to
him, in Hindostauec, to drop the stone, aud
run into the tent, but he paid no attention to
me. Then, as the elephant was passing be
hurled the stone, und struck 1t on the side.
The brute turned quickly, saw its assailant, and
I
time fur him to escape il he had run for the
tent, as / again shouted to him to do, for
though the brute would, undoubtedly, hAye
brought the canvas down, we should, probably,
havc all escaped in the confusion. But, turn
ing quickly toward me he placed his hand upon
his forehead and bowed his head, after the man-
ner OF the Hindoo who desires to express his
gratitude by meansof the all-scrviceable salaam,
and then stood upright, apparently calm and
collected, beside the tree.
when the elephant was within four feet OF
him the man sprang quickly to the other side OF
the trunk He had evidently calculated upon
escaping his enemy BY Keeping tue tree between
them, but he had altogether underEalued the
brutc's cunning. QUICK as lightning the great
animal altered It's course. moved around the op-
posite side OF the trunk, and In second the
elephant and the man stood lace 70 lace. There
Yas no human Possibility OF escape now, and
the hiudoo kne" that the last lew sands Of his
lie we're rapld'y running out. Like all OF bis
.ace he was 1atal!st. anu even the terrible
icath tfat ore!snaoo"ed MIN brought to MIN
no terrors. Calmly be crossed bis hands over
lis ooso1n' ana oo"en MS heau TO tEe inevitable.
u was an ose1 III i've seconds Inc e!eonanI
'a'sea lls t9unh hl7ae1 tnan oe1ore, and stfuck
hurried, awh"afu olo~. hitting hl5 Vlcttn nos
NTH Inc lower emu ol Tue ,runk, WHICH Is very |
enaes, out, as 1ar rs couia see, Win nus cnecK
u mouth. me man went oo"n as thou9h ne
,ao "a oeen leLea ~iIn cannon nall, oat lmme-