The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-07
SLAIN BY AN ELEPHANT.
Dcatl, of Ono of Robinson's Animal Train
crs In Charlotte.

ers in Charlotte.
The Charlotte Observer gives the follow
ing account of the fatal escapade of one of
Robnson's elephants in that city OH Mon
day night:
"The car on which this elepant, the
largest of the three. called "Chief," had
been brought from Concord, Was standing
just above the Trade street crossing, and
large crowd had gathered around to
watch the process of unloading. Imme.
diately after giving this warning to the
bystanders, John King, powerfully built
man, stepped around to "Chiefs" head
and was in the act ofturning him around
when the crowd heard him call the ele.
pha"t by name in frightened tone, and
the next moment they saw the enrnged
animal turn upon his keeper and crush
him against the car. King sank to the
ground without groan and the men
who were with him fled precipitately.
The elephant surveyed the scene for
an instant, 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 con-
veyed across the street to Ferry More
heads barber shop, where several doctors
were summoned.
In the meantime, the elephant kept on
up the track, and the report getting
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,
but before any plans could be formed, it
was learned that the circus men were after
him, and would no doubt succeed in cap
turing him. To do this they had to take
with them "Mary," the female elephant
and "thc Boy" "Chief" had turned up
Fifth street on arriving at the crossing,
and the other elephants were driven rap
idly after him. On arriving a Tryon,
street, be stopped for moment, and then
went directly across to Church street,
where he was with some difficulty secured,
by being chained to the other two ele-
plants. They were then driven down
Tryon street towards the point when they
had started.
The animals moved along quietly until
they arrived at Market House when
there was united movement towards
the pump. An attempt was made to drive
them on, but they refused to 60, and the
expedient of allowing them to drink was
resorted to. In the movements about
the pump the chains became entaDgled,
and the three began to move around and
around drawing them gradually together.
"Chief's" temper was again aroused and
he began to below. Finally, by the
vigorous use of goads and pitchforks, the
three elephants were made tc take their
respective places and the slow movement
toward the tents was continued. At last
they were gotten there and were securely
fastened, but the excitement continued
for hours afterwards.
A half hour after the accident to King
reporter gained admittance to the bar
Der shop where he found the keeper
stretched upon door, with Drs. McAdep,
O'Donoghue aud Gatchell, around i'm,
dressing q wound in>his head. He was
breathing with difficulty and his face was
swollen and blackened. He had all the
appearance of a dead man, but for the
Jerking movement of his body caused by
his painful efforts to breathe. His skull
was crused and although there was ap-
parently nc possible hope for his recovery,
the physicians were resorting to every
expedient to save him.
Several of the showmen were in the
shop, And among them rough looking
fellow with a kindly face seemed to be
more affected than any of the rest, and to
whom the reporter applied for informa-
tion about the keeper.
"Yes," said he, II have known John
King for years. He was the keeper Of
the animals and nobody amt said he was
ever afraid of them. "Chief' was his
pet and he could do more with him than
any one else. He was a brave fellow,
but reckless. He wouldn't be dying now
if "s1arry" had been there. She'd a
knocked "Chcif" down. You wasn't
there to see her take after him when she
knowed he'd killed Mr.. King. "Mary"
is as gentle as a lamb, and so is "Boy,"
but "Chief" is always vicious. They
don't take him around on the parade"
King fingered until about II o'clock
when he died.