Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-11
ELEPHANTS AT LARGE.
Lively Times inTrOy.

The telegraph has already informed us Of
the escape of four of Barnums elephants at
Troy and the lively sensation consequent
thereupon. 1t appears that after Barnum's
show was over the keepers were trying to
conduct the beasts over the bridge TO Green
Island, where the cars were waiting to take
them to another place Of exhibition. But
Emperor, the largest Of the quadrupcds ex-
cept Jumbo, did not like the looks of the
bridge, and started of, followed by three
smaller beasts of the same sort In the
course of his wanderings Emperor struck the
Rensselaer, rolling mill where he was injured
while trying to handle red-hot rails. We
take from the Troy Times portion OF the
story of his subsequent performances. as fol-
lows: Entering Fourth street from Stow
street. Emperor saw John Mara, and imme-
diately knocked him down and tried to tram
pie him. A rod further on Jerry Barlow was
standing in his doorway and was knocked
down. Maras arms are very sore, two OF
his ribs are broken, his eyes are black, and
where the elephant stepped on him, near the
groin, a rupture is feared. Barlow was more
frightened than hurt. The huge beast ran
down Polk street and turned into the railroad
track and continued on his way to the steel
works. Mrs. Langley was standing in the door
of her husbands saloon and Emperor making
rush caught her around the body
with his trunk. David Murphy was stand
ing by, and pulling out a revolver discharged
the weapon He was so excited that he
missed the beast, which, thoroughly fright.
eucd, scampered down the track to the steel
works. Mrs. Langley went into commissions,
and DR.. Harvie for time dcspaired OF rcsus-
cilating her When Emperor reached Stow
street he ran up the hill to Fourth. On his
way he saw Patrick Molten in front of his
residence and, picking him up, threw him
against n locked door, which gave way, and
Patrick landed all in heap. Mrs. Molten
had her eight -months-old baby IN her arms
and, as she ran for the door, the elephant
struck her with his trunk and threw her up
seven steps OF the first flight of stairs. The
appearance of Mrs. Moltens face, breast and
arms would give person the idea that she
had gone through thrashing machine. The
baby had miraculous escape, and did not
suffer in any way. Mr.. Molten's left shoul-
Batavia street to the steel works, entered
the brilliantly lighted building and endeav-
orcd to destroy several red hot steel blooms.
He met with such warm repulse that he
ran rapidly to the river, jumped in and swan
to Burdens blast furnace, half mile away.
His burns caused him frightful pain, and
landing at Burdens, he knocked fence into
splintcrs and rushed into the mill. The men
were startled, AMI the enraged beast, howl
ing terrilicaly, chased them around. PAN
ic cnsucd. The appearance OF such an IN
looked-for visitor was enough to cause con-
stcrnation but his evident intention to make
things hot frightened the men out of their
wits Emperor slashed around with his
trunk, throwing bits of iron all over the
building, and then made his way up Main
street. Officer Kennedy saw huge black
object like cloud coming and drew his club.
He ran to the middle of the street, and the
elephant, swerving to one side, caught up
Patrick Kennedys wagon and threw it TWEEN
ty feet against tree box. The big beast
was evidently feeling angry, and threw
himself violently against the side of Lev
ing's chapel. Seeing he could not wreck the
solid stone masonry, he went for Corning 5
fence, and crushed it as easy as if it was pa
per. He was evidently suffering great pain
from his burns, and going into Corning's gar
den rolled himself around in the turnippatch,
completely running it and doing damage to
the extent of $3.50. The residents
of the hill were all alarmed by this time, and
Tue NatuOllCs, WHO pTtuOHllndlc III tuc NlCiu-
lty, were much exercised over report that
Emperor was demolshing tombstones in st.
Josephs cemetery. A hundred excited men
and women ran to the burial ground and saw
the elephant gazing contemplatively at a
tombstone. He was quickly driven out.
Incensed ut the crowd, he went into
De Freests's farm and destroyed
$500 worth of growing oats and
corn. He lay in the fields and rolled oyer
and over, crushing the growing crops. The
huge fellow then made a flank attack on the
cemetery, but was again driven Off. The
presence of large crowd deferred him from
violence, and after Intellectual attempts to
enter the graveyard he retired to Kirby's field
after kicking fence to pieces. The people
watched the graveyard until daylight, when
a trainer from Barnum's appeared 1t re.
qured good deal of coaxing before the in.
dignant elephant would allow his keeper tc
approach, but finally he became docilc and
allowed rope to be tied around his neck
He was then led around by Francis avenu,
and down to Fourth street. A large GROVE
| followed at a safe distance. AT O'clock thu
beast reached the Green Island freightyard
where he met the other three runaways, ant
an affectionate meeting ensued