The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-16
4 MAI ELEpHAST Ar LARGE
Seven Men Crushed 10 Death by n Ponderous
Ermte-A Mini In IIIndnostnn.

Seven Men Crushed to Death by n Ponderous
Erute-A Night In IlInd0ostnu.
81 hate an elephant" theoretically OK
claimed MAJOR Sprngle an old Indian traveller
Il think they nre not Mt all the good naturcd
harmless beasts that showmen and grandmo;h-
ers' story books are fond Of representing
them to BE-. quite agree with Charles Reade
when hc says. in his Jack Of All Trades that
they are rurdcrous. treachcrous brutes. full Of
vice and cunning
&C. know very little about the African ele-
plant. but one Of the iailings of tho Asiatc kind
is that IN very hot weather. and under severe
physical strain he is very likoy to 10 mad-and
I can tell YOU n mad elephant is a creature that
the most curious student Of the animals habits
Ind better contemplate from distance.
" Much oi my Indian life was uasscd in the
station Of Jubbuiporc. The entorursi ng people
there resolved to have an exhibition. Goods
poured In rapidly in bullock wagons on camcis'
backs. and in various other ways. and raiahs
and other Indian dignitarics. with suites OF
attendants. journeyed from great distances.
So larus can remember what am spo0k-
ing OF happened in the latter part OF 1866 or
carly in 1867. young photographer. with
Whom was icqunlhtci, invited me 10 shrrc
his tent with him for week or 50 on the EX-
hlhitun grounds. where he intended 10 take
views. and gladly accepted ihr invitation.
~ Two nights before the Exhibition opened
we won't ont upon the grounds, ana found them
covered with tents, and crowded. win natives,
vino Tor the most part were attending upon
elephants. hulnrks. cUmcls. and horses. Ii
WIS bright moonlight might. and we sat smok-
ing b'ioro the opening Of our tent. watching
the curious scene hriOr" MS until uunrly mid
might. Then. the noise having gradually died
away. we retired 10 our beis.
" | he'd been asceu. perhaps. about an hour.
when ! was uwakencd by The beating ~ tom:
toms and thc shouting Of the nntivrs outside. !
jumped out Of bed and ran To- the door ~ the
tent. whore my friend WIS hrcudy standing.
Au c.epl uut with is trunk upraised and trum-
. lDtiug Hereby. was Rushing among the tents.
occasionally striking q rous with his foot and
Swapping Il Ike puck thrrud. In front Of our
tfnt wis an open space, and about thirty yards
away WAS large tree. Beside this tree n man
swcrVed from las course would have passed
about twenty yurds from him; but when the
man -toop and pi up iarg" stone could
hardly credit that he was going to throw IL.
but ~ another second there was no room Tor
! doubt thut such was his intention. ! called tQ
him. in liindoostanp". TO drop the stone. and
run into tine tent. but lie puid no attention To
mo Then, ~ the elephant was passing he
hurled the stone. and stru X II on the side Tho
brute turned quickly. saw il assailant. md
rushed ut him. Even then. think. there WAS
tint. rs | again shouted to him TO do, for
/ though the brute would undoubtedly. have
brought te canvas down. wa should. probably,
have all escaped In the confusion. But turning
quickly toward mo he placed his hand upon his
forehead AMI bowed his head. after the manner
az The Hiudoo who desires To express his graft
tude 10y means % the all scrvirhbir salaAin. and
then stood upright. apparently calm and col
lected beside the tree.
When the elephant was within four feet OF
him the man sprung quickly 10 the other side
Of the trunk He hal evidently calculated upon
escupiug his enemy 10y Keeping the trcr between
them. but Dee had altogether uudoryalued the
hrute's cunning. Quick - lightning the great
"hiHlHl "itHt"h is ','AiNfs Hl',Ntu houuu, VIZ
opposite SIDE OF tho trunk, and in second the
elephant ana the man stood face TO face. There
was no human possibility ot escape now and
/ tho llindoo know that the last few sands " his
life were rapidly running cut. Like all Of his
rucn ne Wac "a iutllist. and even the terrible
b tnath Tint ovrrShadDwrd him brought 10 d m
,, -, ri,.i,, h.. ,-','si Li -, ~,
MS bosom ami bowed his head 90 the inevitable
IL wts all over in i've seconds. Tho ee.
/ plant raised his trunk higher than before. and
struck u hurried. awkward blow. hitting his
victim not with the lower end of the trunk
wmch Is very tender. but a AR as could srs
with nus cheek or mouth. lhc man went down
rs thougn he had been f"od with cannon hail.
but immediately he raised himself on his elbow
AMI looked upward. For one second the brute
/ stood over him. and then dropped heavily for
ward. one massive knee going down upon tn,
nun = breast.
" Tho elephant rushed away. trumpeting NJ
before. and took reiug" in some low hills in the
n"iglibOrhood. We learned the next morning
10 get early to the exhibition. had caused hin
10 be- overdrven with a heavy load. until he
was driven mad.
What W. saw was only small part % the
damage he did. He ki ed seven men that night
including his driver. who was his first victim
Ny friend md went IN the morning TO SEQ the
seven crushed bodies. which all lay under d
single canvas sheet. For some time the ma
/ uy'- standing around tried 10 persuade US moi
/ 10 uncover them. but "a nHtive constable con.
cludri tine argument by s"izing the corner o
/ IN" sheet ana pulling IL 20 one side. The faces
! were nll calm aud iie-llke, for Hindoo. even
! under the most appalling Conditions rarrly
suffers himself % pnss into the other life with
] out composing his limbs and features.
| The moment the natives standing arounJ
/ saw the uncovered bodies "a frenzy seemed {.
/ pnss them. The men rushed TO their tents
/ nnd presently returned with rusty old swords
] nnt-Ocked pistols, and bril-mOuthed guns
/ All these weapons they began TO polish Vignr
/ ous.y. with the intention " making immedint,
/ WAY upon the elepnant But Col. spencer th'
] Commissioning OF the station. had already sent
/ patty Of Bengal Lanrrrs after him, and ma th'
/ afternoon hc WIS brought back. with bullet IL
/ one OF his knees and loaded with chains SO mr.
ranged TINT he could be pulled 10 the ground Il
n moments notice II he showed any signs O
Rebellion.
The raiah who owned him attempted I,
/ make light ~ the matter. but u fine OF some
/ thing like 10000 rupees levied by the Govern
I ment. induced him To- take more serious view
OF his brute's achievement"