The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1880-09-30
An Enraged Elephant.

N. c., BY RUNNING LOOSE AROUND
THE CITY.
RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 29.- Informa-
ton received here from Charlotte, N. u,
states that upon the arrival OF John Rob
iDson's circus there yesterday scene OF
great excitement ensued consequent on
the bal temper and escape Of "Chief,"
the largest and most powerful OF the
elephants. The car upon which the an
NAL was brought was standing near a
crossing on Trade street. Quite large
crowd had gathered to witness the pro-
cess of unloading the animals. "Chief"
had been taken off the car. Nothing re-
lnarkable occurred till the keeper OF the
elephants, John King, was heard to cry
out: -"Look out there! If that ele-
plant hits any of you, will not be re-
sponsible." Almost Immediately after
giving this warning, King, who was
powerfully built man, stepped round TO-
"Chiet's" head and was in the act Of
turning him round, when the people
heard him call the animal by name In
what they regarded as frightened tone.
In moment more the monster, who
was enraged, was seen by the crowd
to turn up the unfortunate keeper and
crush him against the car. King sank
to the ground without groan,and the
attendants who were with him fled in
terror and dismay. The crowd scat
tered up Trade street and and the
widest confusion followed. The men
were afraid to approach the infuria-
ted animal and King was allowed to
remain for several minutes on the
ground where he had fallen. The ele-
plant surveyed the scene for an in
slant, gave short snort and started
at brisk pace up The railroad track.
AS soon as he was out of reach King
was picked up apparently lifeless and
conveyed across the street to barber
shop, where several doctors were sum-
moned. In the meantime the elephant
continued up tine track, land the report
ge tting abroad that he was loose in
the streets, the excitement increased,
The crowd which first collected about
the crossing and the door of the shop
into which King had been carried
scattered up the street, and all sorts
of reports were afiOat, no one being
able on account of the darkness to de-
termine the whereabouts of the ele-
plant. 1t was suggested that a party
be organized to start in pursuit with
the view of shooting HIM, but before
any plans could be formed it was lear
ned that the circus men were following
him, and would no doubt succeed in
capturing him. To do this they had
to take with them Mary, the female
elephant, and The Boy.
CHIEFS DENOMINATIONS.
Chief had turned up Fifth street on
arriving at the crossing and the other
elephants were driven rapidly after
him. On arriving at Tyron street he
stopped for moment and then went
directly across to CHURCH street, where
he was secured by being chained to
the other two elephants. The three
were then driven down Tyron street to-
ward the point whence they had start
ed, followed by crowd. The animals
moved along quietly till they arrived
at the market house, when their was a
united movement toward the pump.
An attempt was made to drive them
on. but they refused to go, and the ex-
:pedient of allowing them to drink was
resorted to. In the movements about
the pump the chains became entangled
and the three began to move round
and round, drawing them gradually to-
gether. Chiefs temper was again
aroused and he began to below. The
wild, weird noise threw panic into the
crowd, and there was a confused re-
treat. Finally, by the vigorous use of
goads and pitchforks, the three ele-
plants were made to take their respec-
tive places, and the slow movement to-
ward the tents was continued. At last
they were gotten there and securely
fastened, but the excitement continued
for hours afterward. A half-hour af-
ter tile accident King was breathing
with difficulty and his face was swol-
len and blackened. He had all the ap-
pearances of "a dead man but for the
convulsive movement OF his body
caused by his painful efforts to breathe.
His skull was crushed. King fingered
till about eleven o'clock, when he died.
He was buried this p. m. after the cir
Gus performance. Mr.. Lolow, the
clown, said that King was somewhat
to blame for the animals viciousness,
as he never would consent to any VIC
lent measures TO subdue him. MIR. Lo-
low said they had several other men
in the show who could take care of him.
He was satisfied that the elephant did
not know it was King when he made
at him, as the keeper had him under
absolute control.