The Osceola times., 1881-10-15
A VERY BAD ELEPHANT.

A VERY BAD ELEPHANT.
some OF the Doings of Chef. who Killed
Negroes for Fun and Hts Keeper
In u Rage.
Charlotte Observer.
The return Of John Robinson's circus
and the presence of the elephant Chief,
recalls wildly the death OF poor John
King in this city last fail. Chief is about
u wears old, although Robinson has
owned him about nine or ten years. He
was purchase from the proprietors Of
the Cincinnati hippicrome. Until about
year ago he was as gentle as a lamb,
although he did kill two or three negroes
during that time, but it was all done in
fun. He never got into rage. But
during the spring of 1880 he began To
show temper aud desire to due serious
mischief He would get into frequent
RACES, lay about promiscuously with his
trunk, and fiercely attack stone walls or
any such trihing distractions, dashing
his ivory tusks against the solid masonry
with strength which threatened TO
break them of.
Standing on his head was one of the
tricks of his old playful days, and on one
he practiced this feat with seeming good
humor Although he had gathered a
negro in with his trunk with the SEEM
ing intention Of atomizing him, he deli
cately placed him on the ground, and
placing his huge tusks carefully on each
side Of the terrified darky and his broad
forehead in the sawdust of the arena
hoisted his ample posterior in the air
and waved his iabby tail in triumphant
glee. 1t is said that darky is not fond of
elephants since that time About this
time John King, the keeper, announced
that he was going to make Chief the
worst elephant in the world. He would
not punish the elephant, nor would he
allow any one else to do 80. 1t is said
King pursued this policy to keep his
position with the show.
Well, Chief did get to be very bad, and
finally Mr. Robinson, seeing that the
elephant would hurt somebody il his
viciousness was not subdued. determined
to have him severely punished. King
declined TO do anything. The circus was
then travelling up and down the Ohio
river. and one day Chief getting on his
ear on a steamboat, halt WAS ordered at
an island in the river, and the elephant
over the brawny branches Of huge tree
and tied to the monsters legs A strong
pull hy many men jerked his feet from
under him. and he rolled over sn his
back. His trunk was lassoed and tied,
ami six or eight men at time would dash
at bin with spears, thongs and other
horrible instruments Of torture TO pierce
his thick hide. But il was all no good;
i A u. 80. n. A
termined 10 burn the spirit out Of him.
Sticks OF wood were rolled against his
carcass and hoops saturated with kero.
sene thrown over his huge legs kicking
in the air. The torch was applied and
the elephant subdued. Such cries"
said Mr.. Ludlow, neither man nor brute
ever sent up before. They were p,iful
beyond description" A huge scar on
the side Of the old elephant now tells
the story of his terrible punishment.
While this torture was going on, King,
the keeper, sai on log and wept and
cursed rs the elephant cried. "I'll make
some Of you suffer for this" he said be-
tween his sobs "Chief shall kill some
of you" King was himself the first VIC
tim. For three months after the punish
ment on the island a moro !ocile ele-
phant than Chief was never seen. His
first rage aflerward was in Charlotte last
fall, when he killed John King, whose
mildness had begotten the ferceness of
the animal King now lies buried in
Elmwood cemetery. in this city. A
handsome monument, erected by his
fellow showmen, marks his grave. With
the story OF his death Charlotte people
are familiar
About two months after the tragedy in
Charlotte, Chief crushed a man named
Suliven in Cincinnati 50 severely tnat
he lsy in the hospital for some months,
but finally recovered. He broke out
afresh in Piedmont, w. Va, last spring,
when he dashed frantically through
crowd and ran six miles into the country
before he was overtaken and captured
by men on horseback. He cut up con-
sderably in Warrenton. Goldsboro and
Tsrboro, and in Raleigh he crushed
large dog. But the showmen can tell
when his fits are coming on in time TO
secure him with heavier chains than
those he wears continually. hs tusks
have also been sawed of
The female elephant, Mary, it will be
remembered, pursued and knocked Chief
down when he escaped here last fall; but
although Mary is larger, she is getting
old and is now somewhat afraid Of him
herself The curious fact has been OBJ
observed that the elephant does not
seem To bear any malice toward intoxi-
Gated men. They frequently come with.
In his reach with annoyances, but he
pays no attention. seeming to be aware
when the inferior animal, man, is drunk.
This forebarence is also extended to
children, and, indeed, his malice seems
10 be directed more especially toward the
showmen, every one Of who he seems to
ksov.
Servian Wines.
An official documpnt nnliisbod bv the