Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-18
A Herd Of Elephants Wild In the Streets


York, on the Sd of August, and about mid
night many residents of the city were treat
ed to an entertainment not down in the
bills. The evening performance closed at
about 10 O'Clock, and immediate arrange
ments were made TO transfer the MENACE
RE to Gloversville. The elephants and
larger ANIMALS were driven down River
street to the Rensselaer, and Saratoga Rail
road bridge, with view of crossing the
latter to take cars on Green Island for
Gloversville. The camels, Jumbo, and sew
eral other elephants filed into the bridge
all right; but one of the large elephants.
known as the Emperor, became unruly, and
manifested a disposition to continue down
the street. The attendants sought to coax
him over, but the more he was coaxed the
more obstinate he became, and he finally
made bolt down River street. Three
other elephants followed his example. The
trouble had already attracted large crowd
of men and boys, whose mingled cries at
the beasts only Infatuated them, and they
started down through the centre of the
city at full speed. At Adams street EN-
peror fell and was soon surrounded. Raising
himself suddenly he espied the bright lights
burning in the Hon. Erastus Corning's
Rensselaer, Rail Mill, and he made that
his objective point. The other elephants
followed. Emperor entered the mill, caus-
ing stampede OF, the employees. In his
anxiety to escape his pursuers he stepped
into the hot blooms, and his forefeet were
terribly burned.
Goaded to madness with pain, the ele-
plant rushed from the mill on to the Hud-
son River Railroad track, and, reaching
Jeffe rson street, he took the sidewalk. Mr..
walk, and were so surprised at the strange
sight of an elephant running at large that
they lost their presence of mind. AS a re-
suit, Casey was knocked down and badly
hurt. Turning into First street, Emperor
met Patrick Maher, who was returning
from work. and threw him with great force
down an embankment. The elephant next
encountered Edward Burke, and injured
him very seriously by blow with his
trunk. Emperor then took the sidewalk
but, owing to the lateness of the hour, did
not meet any one until he reached Van
Buren, street, where he seized Patrick
Burns and threw him about twenty feet.
In Tyler street Emperor hurled Michael
Mlnahan against fence, breaking three
of his ribs. Minahan is IS years old, and
it is probable that he will die. Before
reaching the Fourth street junction, sew
eral other persons were hurt. Mr.. and Mrs
Patrick Moulton we're seated on the stoop
of their residence as Emperor hove in sight
and they remained there to see what was
the matter. AS Emperor approached the
house, Moulton seized pail and stuck the
brute. Whereupon Emperor turned and
selling Mrs. Moulton, threw her with great
force against the wall in the house, seri-
ously injuring her. Mr.. Moulton was
knocked senseless by blow of the animals
trunk, and his collar bone was broken
John Roarke, who lived near by, was
drunk enough to suppose that he could
quiet the elephant, and as result his right
foot was crushed by Emperor treading up
on it. 4at
The elephant then turned into Fourth
street, where he knocked Jeremiah Barlow
insensible, threw Vim. H. Burke down a
steep bank, and sent John O'Marra about
fifteen feet into the air. Then he made
for the Bessemer Steel works, being at
tracted thither by the electric light. Re-
membering his experience at the Rensse-
laer Mill, Emperor did not seek an init
mate acquaintance with the hot steel
blooms. In fact, the sight of them caused
him to turn, and SO frantic was he that he
ran against a fence, knocking it to pieces.
Turning into the street again, peddler's
wagon was in the way, and this the angry
brute reduced to kindling wood. Empe-
ror then made for the farm lands adjoin-
ing, doing great damage to vegetables and
fences on the places OF the Hon. Erastus
Corning, Thos. Dickson, G. E. Defrees,
and others.
Meanwhile Emperor's companions had
been captured, and ether circus hands, ex-
perienced in the treatment of wild animals,
joined in the attempt to capture Emperor.
The latter. however, took possession of
st. Joseph's Cemetery, where he trampled
on graves and knocked down several head
stones. At about o'clock this morning
he was captured.
In addition to the persons above named
many others were injured. Mr.. Hutchin-
son visited the victims to-day and settled
all damages. The aggregate amount paid
out was nearly $4,000. ls
Don't think there is something rad
ically wrong about the world because