The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-07
SLAIN by An ELEPHANT.
Death OF Ono of Robinson's Animal Train.
ere In Charlotte.


The Charlotte Observer giTes the follow.
Ing account of the fatal escapade of one of
ttobinson's elephants in that city OH Mon
day night:
"Tle car on which this elepant, the
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
man, stepped around to "Chiefs" head
and was in the act ofturning him around
when the crowd heard him call the Gle.
ph'"t by name In o frightened tone, and
the next moment they saw the enraged
animal turn upon his keeper and crush
him againet tho car. King sank to the
who were with him fled precipitately.
The elephant surveyed the scene for
an instant, gave short snort and started
Mt brisk pace up the railroad track. AS
soon rs he WIS 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 strees,
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 thoy 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 Tryon,
street, he 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 Gle.
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 a united movement towards
the pump. An attempt was made to drive
them on, but they refused to 10. and the
cxpedient of allowing them to drink was
resorted to. In the movements about
the pump the chains became entangled,
and the thrce began to move around and
around drawing them gradually ogether.
"ChieFs" temper was again aroused and
he began to below. Finally, bv the
vigorous usc of goads and pitchforks, the
three elephants were made to take their
respective places aud 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 admittanco to the bar.
Der shop where he found the keeper
stretched upon door, with Drs. McAden,
O'Donoghue aud Gatchell, around him,
dressing wound in his head. He was
breathing with difficulty and his face was
swollen and b!ackened. He had all the
appearance of dead man, but for tho
jerking movement of his body caused by
his painful eflI fts to breathe. His skull
was crused and although there was ap-
parently no possible hope for his recovery,
Tho physicians were resorting to every
expedient to save him.
Several of the ahowmen were in the
shop, And among them rough looking
fellow with o kindly face seemed to be
more affected than any of the rest, and TO
whom the reporter applied for inforna-
ton about the keeper.
eyes" said he, II have known John
King for years. He was tho 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 brave fellow,
but reckless. Hewould'nt be dying now
if "Marry" had been there. She'd a
knocked "Cheif" down. You wasn't
there to see her take after him when she
knowed he'd killed Mr.. King. "Mary
is as gentle rs lamb, and so Is "Boy,
but Chief is always. vicious. They
don't take him around on the parade.n
King fingered until about IL o'clock
when he died.