Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-04
THE CRAZY FITS OF ELEPHANTS.

think was the worst" said DR.. 1. A.
Graves, the veteran Snowman. Most
elephants recover from mad fit within
few days, but Hannibal-well, he would
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 every
thing he could Talk about elephants
being large Hannibal looked as big as a
locomotive that morning. The keeper at
tempted to check him, and was chased
into swamp. The first vehicle
the elephant met was 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 and the
horses were killed, the drivers escaping uns
hurt. When the fury of his fit was spent,
Hannibal was beneath tree on the road
side completely exhausted, and for the
time submissive. Tusk-chains were ap-
piled, and for many weeks afterward he
was kept under the strictest surveillance.
To approach him during this period was
dangerous. On turning out one morning
in Burlington, VT, l found a number of
women and children pettiDg him, while he
was swinging his ears in evident enjoy
ment. Then l know the spell was broken.
He was very docile and tractable the ba,-
ance of that season.
Hannibal was the most vicious ele-
plant that ever tramped with show. In
lS49, while we were at Connellsville, O., a
stranger gave him pail of water. He
drank the water leisurely, and then, sud-
denly turning his head, struck the man
with his tusks. The poor fellow died.
While chained at Williamsburg, n. Y, in
1857, he took fit and pursued the keeper
into a stoneyard, when he got wedged In
among the powders, and was subdued in
that dilemma. Up to lS45 Hannibal was
noted for his Interchangeable good nature.
In those days old Put Townsend used to
be his keeper. Put had trained him to
drive tie stake to which it was customary
to chain him. One day Put started the
stake and handed the sledge to Hannibal
to complete the job. Hannibal made a
ponderous blow at the stake head, but
struck his foot instead. He threw the
sledge so far that it required an hours
search to find it. and never would touch
one again. Hannibal lived to be 100 years
old, and killed twelve men.
columbus was another bad elephant.
In December, IS49, while with Raymond
& Warnings menagerie, Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, he killed his keeper, took
possession of the show, and retained it for
three days, killing in that time two CAM
els, llama, and upsetting large stove
+,un oil Tho Inorc
barricaded, cannon were mounted in the
street, and soldiers paraded the premises
in readiness to give him a warm reception
entered the building from above,
noosed rope to the floor. He
walked into the trap, and when
he realized that he was caught, submitted
quietly to the claiming operation. Column
bus fell through bridge at Nolth Adams,
Mass, the following summer, and died a
few days later.
"Bll Williams, or Canada Bill, as he
was professionally called, was Columbus
first keeper. Forepaughs elephant Romeo
killed HIM in winter quarters at Frankfort,
Pa, in 1865. Bill went into the elephants
den to do some chores, and his crushed
aud mangled body was found few hours
afterward. George Waste was killed in
much the same manner by Turner's African
Romeo. Before rescuing party could get
his body away from the elephant it was
denuded of everything except one boot.
The elephant Plzarro 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
for miles around, doing great deal of
damage to farm property. Chief, who is
the only one of the mad or rogue ele.
plants alive, killed john King. the keeper
with Robinson's show, in 1879"
''What causes the madness of ele.
plants ," was asked.
If you have ever noticed, you may
have seen that there are issues from the
head of the elephant, just behind the ear.
When these are kept open, a thin, watery
substance exudes therefrom. have al
WAYS remarked that elephants are kindly
disposed and easily handled while these
issues are open, but just SO soon as they
become clogged madness ensues. The in
sertion of a common tape needle brings
relief"
"Is it true that elephants are fond of
stimulants and narcotics %
es, exceedingly SO. Now, there's a
popular error that should be corrected. 1t
has always been thought that if you gave
an elephant tobacco he would never forget
it, and years after would kill you did
an opportunity present itself. Thas is
not 3d. On the contrary, there are but
two things which they relish more
apple-tree boughs and thistles. Their
passion for fine. cut tobacco is something
marvellous. Some years ago, when 1 was
travelling with the elephant Conqueror, it
was my custom to carry meerschaum
pipe in particular pocket in my coat.
One day l left my coat within reach of his
trunk, and in less time than it takes me
to tell it, he had found the pipe, crushed
it, and swallowed case, stem, and ALL Dur
ing the few years was with Copqneror
| reckon he must have eaten several
hundred pounds of tobacco. The truth of
the matter is, gentlemen, an elephant, like
an intelligent person, will eat only what
suits his taste, and never barbors any dis.
like for those people who give him dis
agreeable food"
Mrs. LYDIA E. PINKHAM, No. 233 Western
Avenue, Lynn, Mass, is rapidly acquiring an
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