The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-10-28
An Enraged Elephant Kills Its Keeper.


Information received here from Char
lotte. n. c., says Richmond (Va-)
special to the New York Herald, states
that upon the arrival of John Robinson's
circus there yesterday scene of great
excitement ensued consequent on the
bad temper and escape of Chief, the
largest and most powerful of the ele-
plants. The car upon which the ami
NAL was brought was standing near a
crossing on Trade Street. Quite crowd
had gathered to witness the process of
unloading the animals. Chief had been
taken off the ear. Nothing remarkable
occurred till the keeper of the elephants,
John King, was heard to cry out: "Look
out, therel If that elephant hits any of
you, will not be responsible.r Almost
immediately after giving this warning,
King, who was powerfully built man,
stepped round to Chiefs 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 fright
ened tone In moment more the mon
ster, who was enraged, was seen by
the crowd to turn upon 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 scattered up Trade Street, and
the widest confusion followed. The
men were afraid to appoach the in
furiated 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
a 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 barber
shop, where several doctors were sum-
moned. In the meantime the elephant
continued 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.
and all sorts of reports were
atioat, no one being able on account of
the darkness to determine the where
abouts of the elephant. 1t was suggest
ed that party be organized to start
in pursuit with the view of shooting
him, but before any plans could be
formed it was learned 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.
Chief had turned up Fifth Street on
arriving at the crossing and the other
elephants were driven rapidly after him.
On arriving at Tryon 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 Tryon Street towards the
point whence they had started, followed
by crowd. The animals moved along
quietly until they arrived at the Market
House, when there was united move
ment towards the pump. An attempt
was made to drive them on, but they
refused to go and the expedient of al
lowing 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, draw
ing them gradually together. Chiefs
temper was aroused and he began to
below. The wild, weird noise threw a
panic into the crowd and there was a
confused retreat. Finally, by the Wig
orous use of goads and pitch-forks the
three elephants were made to take their
respective places and the slow move
ment towards the tents was continued.
At last they were gotten there and were
securely fastened, but the excitement
continued for hours afterward. A half
hour after the accident King was breath
ing with difficulty and his face was
swollen and blackened. He had all the
appearances of 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 afternoon after the
circus performance. Mr.. Lolow, the
clown, said that King was somewhat to
blame for the animals viciOusness, as
he never would consent to any violent
measures to subdue him. Mr.. Lolow
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 ly g II carr