Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-09

tree a man was standing. The elephant.
If it had not been swerved from its
course, would have passed about TWEEN
ty wards from lin but when the brute
was nearly opposite him, | saw the man
stoop and pick up large stone. could
hardly credit that he was gong TO throw
it but in another second there was no
room for doubt that such was his inten.
ton. / called TO him, in Hlndoostanee.
to drop The stone, and run into the tent
but he paid no attention to me. Then.
as the elephant was passing he hurled
the stone, and struck it on the side
The brute turned quickly, saw its as
sailant, aud rushed at him. Even then.
think. there was time for him 10 es-
cape if he had run for the tent. as !
again shouted to him to do. for. though
the brute would undoubtedly have
brought the canvas down. we should
probably have all escaped in the confu
sion. But turning quickly toward me
he placed his hand upon his forehead
and bowed his head. after the manner oi
the Hindoo who desires TO express his
gratitude by means of the all servicea-
BILE sqlaam. and then stood upright. an
parently 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 the tree between
them. but he had altogether undervalued
the brute's cunning. Quick as light
ming the great animal altered its course.
moved around the opposite side of the
trunk. ana in second the elephant and
the man stood face to face. There was
no human possibility Of escape now, and
the Hndoo knew that the last few sands
of his life were rapidly running out.
Like all of bis race he was fatalist, and
even the terrible death that oyershad
owed him brought to him no terrors. -
Calmly he crossed his hands over his
bosom and bowed his head to the in.
evilable.
1t was all over in five seconds. The
elephant raised his trunk higher than
before, and struck hurried, awkward
blow, hitting his victim, not with the
lower end OF the trunk, which is very
tender, but, as far as could see, with
his cheek or mouth. The man went
down as though he had been lelled with
cannon-ball, but Immediately after he
raised himself on his elbow and looked
upward. For enc second the brute
stood over him, and then dropped heay.
lily forward, one massive knee going
down upon the mans breast.
The elephant rushed away, trumpet
ing as before, aud took refuge in some
low hills IN the neighborhood. We
learned the next morning that he be-
longed to a rajah, who, in his anxiety
to get early to the exhibition. had caus-
ed him to bs overdriyen, with heavy
load, until he was driven mad.
What we saw was only small part
Of the damage he did, He killed seveu
men that night, including his driver.
who was the first victim. Ny friend and
[ went in the morning to see the seven
crushed bodies, which all lay under
single canvas sheet. For some time
the NATIVES standing arouad tried to
persuade US not to uncover them, but
native constable concluded the argu-
ment by seizing the corner of the sheet
and pulling it to Que side. The faces
were all calm and life-like. tor a Hun-
doc, even under the most appalling
conditions, rarely suffers himself to
pass into the other life without compos-
ing his limbs and features.
The mement the natives standing
around saw the uncovered bodies
frenzy seemed to possess them. The
men rushed to their tents, and presently
returned with rusty old swords, flint
lock pistols and bellmouthed guns
All these weapons they began to polish
vigorously, with the intention OF making
immediate war upon the elephant. But
Col. Spencer, the commissioner Oi the
station, had already sent party of Ben
gal lancers after him, and in the after
noon he was brought back, with a bull
let in one Of his knees, and loaded with
chains so arranged that he could be
pulled to the ground at a moments
notice if he showed any signs of rebel
lion.
The rajah who owned him attempt
ed to make light OF the matter, but a
fine OF something like 2O,0 900 rupees,
levied by the government, induced him
to take a more serious view OF his
brute's achievement
- 90 >-------
l WHAT HE FOUND. He was saw
ing man, with an eye on the main
chance and the sidewalk. He saw
bit Of green paper in the slush. None
of his companions noticed it. He ex
cused himself and stepped aside. The
walk was crowded with pedestrians. -
He kept his eye on the bit of greer
paper, which ever and anon was steppet