Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-04-09
NUMBER 81.
4 MAD ELEPHANT At LARGE.

NUMBER Il.
A MAD ELEPHANT At LARGE
Seven Mem Crushed to Death by . Poa
derous Bruts...A Ntght IN Hindo
stan.
| "I hate an elephant" energeticall,
exclaimed Major Springle, an old Indial
traveller. al think they are mot at I'll
the good natured, harmless beasts tha
ahowmen and grandmothers' story book
are 10 fond of representing them TO be
| | quite agree with Charles ReAde when
he says in his Jack of All Trades that
they are murderous, treacherous brutes
full of vice and cunning.
"I know very little about tho African
elephant, but one of the failings of the
Asiatic Kind il that in very hot weather
and under 3 severe physical strain he 4
very likely to 20 mad-and l can tell
you, mad elephant ID creature that
the most curious student Of the
animals habits had better contemplate
from distance. ss
"Much of my Indian Life was pAsued
in the station Of Jubbulpore. Tho en-
terprising people there resolved to have
an exhibition. Goods poured in 20 rap
idly in bullock wagons, on camelg backs,
and in various other ways. and rajahs
and other Indian dignitalies, with suites
of attendants, journsyed from great
distances.
$50 far a. can remember what am
speaking of happened in the latter part
of 1866 or early in 1867. A young pho
tographer with whom ! was acquainted,
invited me to share his tent with him for
week or 30 on the exhibition grounds,
where he intended to take views, and l
gladly accepted the invitation.
"Two nights tefore 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. Ii was =
bright moonlight night, and We sat
smoking before the opening Of our tent,
Watching the curious scene before W
until nearly midnight. Then, the noise
having gradually died away, We retired
to our beds.
al had been asleep, perhaps, about an
hour, when was awakened by the beat
ing OF tomtoms and the shouting Of the
natives outside. jumped out Of bed
and ran to the door of the tent, where
INV friend was already standing. An
elephant with his trunk upraised, and
trumpeting fiercely, was rushing among
the tents, occasionally striking . rope
with his foot and swapping 1t like . pack
thread. In from. Of our tent was m
open space. and about thirty yards away
was large tree. Beside this tree man
was standing. The elephant, II It had
not swerved from its course, would have
passed about twenty yards from himi
but when the brute was nearly opposite
him, I saw the man stoop and pick up
Iarre 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. ] called TO him,
in Hindostanee to drop the stone, and
run into the tent, but he paid no alton
ton to me. Then, ~ the elephant was
passing, he hurled the stone, and struck
It on the side. The brute tnrned quick.
ly, saw its assailant and rushed at him.
Even then, think, there was time tor
him to escape If he had run for the tent,
a. I 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 OF
the Hindoo who desires to express his
gratitude by means of the all-sefvice.
able salsam. and then stood upright, ap-
parently calm and collected, beside the
tree.
"When the elephant was within four
feet of him tba man sprang quickly to
the other side of the trunk. He had
evidently calculated on escaping his
enemy By keeping the tree betwecn
them, but he had altogether undervalued
the brute's cunning. Quick aslightning
the great animal altered it, course,
moved around the opposite side of the
trunk. and in second tho elephant and
the man stood face to face. There waa
no human possibility Of escape now, and
the Hindoo knew that the last few sands
of his life were rapidly running ont.
Like al of his race he was . fatalist, and
even the terrible death that oveFshad.
owed him brought to him no terrorA
Calmly he crossed his hands over his
bosom, and bowed his head to ths IN
evitable.
at was eli over in Ave seconds The
elephant raised his trunk higher than
before, and struck hurried, awkward
blow, hitting his victim not with tho
lower end Of the trunk, which y very
tender. but, q far % ! could -, with
his cheek or mouth. The man went
down - though he had been failed With
cannon ball, but Immediately b. raised
himself ON his elbow and looked upward.
For one second tho brute st9od over HIN,
and then dropped heavily forward, ons
massive knee going down upon the naa's
breast.
"The elephant rushed away, trumpet
ing q before, and took refuge IN some
low hills in the neishborhood. We
learned the next morning that he b.
lonred to Z raiah, who, In his anxiety g
ret early to the exhibition, had cansed
him to be oyerdriveu, with heavy had,
until he was driven mad.
What wo saw was only . anaall part
of tho damage he did. He killed seveu
men that night, including BIZ driver,
Who Was his first victim. Ny friend
and I went In the morning to - the
seven cruahed bodies, which Al lAy
under sinGle canvas shset For sonae
tine he natives standiDg axc1nd txiaa
70 persuade n not - uncover thems bue