The Portland daily press., 1881-11-23
The Crazy Fits of Elephants.
A Showman's Recollection of Keepers
Killed and Destruction Done by Them.



"Of all mad elephants, Hannibal, think,
was the worst" said DR.. 1. A Graves. the ve'-
eran Snowman at Bumnells. "Most elephants
recover from hard fit within few days, but
Hannibal-well, he wonld keep up tantrum
for weeks and months at time. The longest
spell he ever had began early one morning in
June, 1854, while travelling with Raymond &
Warnings menagerie from Pawtucket TO Fall
River. He broke away from his keeper and
ran the highway thirteen miles, smashing ev-
erything he could. Talk about elephants be-
ing large Hannibal looked as big as loco
motive that morning. The keeper attempted
to check him and was chased into swamp.
The first vehicle the mao elephant met was a
butchers cart loaded with mutton. He smashed
the cart, killed the horse, broke the drivers
arm, and scattered the quarters of mutton
along the highways Two vegetable wagons
were upset aud the horses were killed, the driv
ers escaping unhurt. When the fury OF his fl
was spent, Hannibal was found beneath tree
on the roadside completely exhausted and for
the time submissive Tusk chains were ap-
Piled, and for many weeks after yard he was
kept under the strictest surveillance. To ap-
DrOacn MIN OurtuR tQlS poFtuu WAS oap6FhoU's
On turning out one morning in Burlington.
VT, found q number of women aud children
petti,g him. while he was swinging his ears IN
evident enjoyment. Then L knew the spell
was broken He was very docile and trsctable
the balance of the season.
Hannibal was the most vicious elephant that
ever tramped with show. In 1S49, while we
were at Conpellsvile, Ohio, a stranger gave
him pail of water. He drank the water lels-
urely, and then, suddenly turning his head,
struck the man with his tusks. The poor ieI-
low died. While chained at Williamsburgh,
N. ", in 1857, he took q tit and pursued tn
keeper into oneyard, when he got wedged
in among the boulders, and was subdued IN
that dilemma Up 10 1845 Hannibal was noted
for his unchangeable good nature. ln those
days old Put Townsend used 10 be his Keeper
Put had trained him to drive the stake To
which it was customary to chain him. one
day Put started the stake and handed the
sledge TO Hannibal TO complete the loD. han
nibaI made ponderous blow at the STAKE nead
but struck his foot instead. He threw the
sledge SO far that il required an hours search
to find it, and never would touch one again;
Hannibal lived to be 100 years old, and Killed
twelve men. fH G
Columbus was another bad elephant. In De-
cenber, 1S49. while with Raymond z Warlngs
meuagerie, Chestnut street, Pnlladeiphia, ne
killed his keeper, took possession OF the show,
and retained it for three days, killing IN that
time two camels, a llama and upsetting a large
stove and two animal cages. The doors were
barricaded, cannon were mounted IN the street
and soldiers paraded the premises IN readiness
to give him u warm reception should ne ap-
pear Finally two keepers entered the build
ing from above, straddled the crossbeams, and
dropped noosed rope 10 the floor. DE waikec
into the trap. and when he realized that ne
was caught, submitted quietly TO the chalning
operation Columbus fell through bridge at
North Adams, Massachusetts, the following
summer, and died few days later. li
Bill Williams, or Canada Bill, as be was
profe ssionaly called, was Columbus's frst
keeper Forepaugh's elephant Romeo Killed
him in winter quarters at FranKi3rt, fa.' Ia
1865 Bill went into the elephants den to DO
some chores and his crushed and mangled BODY
was found a few hours afierward. George
Waste was killed in much the same manner
by Turner's African Romeo. Before rescu
ing party could get his body away from the Oh
spbaut it was deuuded If everything except
one boot The elephant Pzarro had mad
spells oftener than those have mentioned In
1850 he killed his keeper and two camels near
New Orleans, and then raided the country Tor
miles arousd, doing q great deal oi damage 10
farm property; Chief, vino is the only Que OF
the mad or rogue elephants alive, killed John
King, the keeper with Roblnsons snow, III
1873" a -,
sWhat causes the madness of elephants?"
was asked.
ele phant, Just behind the ear. When tneso are
kept open, a thin, wa,ery substance exuue
thcrefrom. have always remarked tnat eb
phants are kindly disposed aud easily handled
while these issues are open, but just 20 soon as
they become clogged madness ensues. The III
serion Of q common tape needle brings re-
lief. -
SIS it true that elephants are fond of stimu-
lauis and narcotics?"
,sYes, exceedingly so. Now, there's popu'
lar error that should be corrected. 1t has al,
ways been thought that if you gave an elephant
tobacco he would never forget it, and years al
terward would kill you did an opportunity pre-
sent ITSELF That is not 80. On the contrary
there are but two things which they rsiisn
more-appletree boughs and thistles Ineii
uassion for foe cut tobacco is somsthing mar
yslIous Some years ago, when was travel
ling with the elephant CoDqneror, It was my
custom to carry a meerschaum pipe IN partic
ular pocket in my coat. Que day iett my
coat within reach of his trunk, and in less time
than il takes me TO tell 1t, he had found the
pipe, crushed it, and swallowed 1t, case, ste :,
and all During the few years l was VIII
| Conoueror reckon he must have eaten severs
| hundred pounds of tobacco. The truth OF me
| matter is, gentlemen, an elephant, ike an IN
| tellgent person, will eat only what suits MI
taste, and never harbors any dislike for tnoss
,qeopie who give him disagreeable food.