American citizen., 1879-03-29
A MAD ELEPHANT.
Seven Men Crushed to Death by "a Pom
derou- Brute-A Night in Hindoosian.
III.

Seven Men Crushed to Death by Pom
derou- Brute-A Night in Hindoos,an.
tFrom the New York SUM-
" hate an elephant" energetically
exclaimed Major Springle, an old Indi-
an traveller. 81 think they are not at
all the goodnatured, harmless beasts
that showmen and grandmothers' story
books are so fond of representing them
to tie. l qlite agree with Charles Reade
when he says, in his 'Jack of All
Trades that they are murderous,
treacherous brutes, full of vice and cum
ming.
"I know very little about the African |
elephant, but one of the failings of the
Asiatic kind is that in very hot weather,
and under a severe physical strain, he is
very likely to go mad---aud I can tell
you, a mad elephant is creature that
the most curious student of the animals
habits had better contemplate from
distance.
"Much of my Indian life was passed
in the station of Jubbulpore. The en-,
terprising people there resolved to have
an exhibition. Goods poured in rapidly
in bullock wagons, on camels' backs,
and in various other ways, and Rajahs
and other Indian dignitaries, with suites
of attendants, journeyed from great dis
tances.
&c So far as I can remember what l
am speaking of happened in the latter
part of 1866, or early in 1867. A young
photographer, with whom 1 was ac-
quaintek, invited me to share his tent
with him for week or so on the Exhi-
bition grounds, where he intended to
take views, and 1 gladly accepted the
invitation.
"Two 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. 1t was a
bright moonlight night, and we sat
smoking before the opening of our tent,
watching the curious scene before us
until nearly midnight. Then, the noise
having gradually died away, we retired
to our beds.
81 had been asleep, perhaps, about
an hour. when 1 was awakened by the
beating of tom-toms and the shouting
of the natives outside. 1 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 trumpeting fiercely, was rushing
among the tents, occasionally striking a
rope with his foot and swapping it like
a pack-thread. In front of our tent
! was an open space, and about thirty
yards away was large tree. Beside
this tree a man was standing. The ele-
phant, if it had not swerved from its
, course, would have passed about twenty
yards from him; but when the brute was
nearly opposite him, saw the man stoop
and pick up large stone. 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. i
called to him, in Hindoostanee, 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 assailant,
and rushed at him. Even then, think,
there was time for him to escape if he
had run for the tent, as again shouted
to him to dc, for though the brute would,
undoubtedly, have brought the canvas
down, we should, probably, have all es-
capped in the confusion. But, turning
quickly toward me he placed his hand
upon his forehead and bowed his head,
after the manner of the Hindoo who de-
sires to express his gratitude by means
of the all serviceable salaam, and then
stood upright, apparently calm and col
! lected, 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 ev-
identity calculated upon escaping his en-
emy by keeping the tree between them,
but he had altogether undervalued the
, brute's cunning. Quick as lightning the
great animal altered its course, moved
: around the opposite side of the trunk,
and in second the elephant and the
man stood face to face. There was no
human possibility of escape now, and
the Hindoo knew that the last few sands
of his life were rapidly running out.
Like all of his race he was fatalist, ,and
even the terrible death that overshad-
owed him brought to him no terrors.
Calmly he crossed his hands over his
bosom, and bowed his head to the inev-
table.
alt was all over in five seconds. The
elephant raised his trunk higher than
before, and struck hurried, awkward
bow, 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 felled with
cannon ball, but Immediately he raised
himself on his elbow and looked up
ward. For one second the brute stood
over him, and then dropped heavily for
ward, one massive knee going down
upon the mans breast.
"The elephant rushed away trumpet
ing as before, and 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, mad caused
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