Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-04-12
A Wicked Elephant.
"PILoT" sHOr DEAD ~ nj OWNERSHIP,
HISTORY NNp DEATH.

Everybody remembers pilot" the ele-
phsnt next IN ..ze 70 Jumbo. who has visit
ed Tin, State With Barnum several times.
Tie Knocked two teeth ont of his trainer the
other day, and became 50 ugl, that il was
necessary 70 ki!l him, THURSDAY lie was
the most ieroc.ous Of elephants. SAYS the
New iork Tunes
Pilot made as bad record for himself a.
an elephant often auains He was an
Aslatic by birth native Of Ceyion. and
about thirty year, Of age. len Of these he
had spent in captivity, and during al. this
time his keepers never dared trust him a
moment. lie had no regard for religion or
morals; he played marbles on SUNDAY In
his youth and drank beer in his maturity.
and in every way has made horrible exam
pie Of himself for little pachyderms. His
FIRST appearance before the public was in
Gross Menagerie, IN London, when all the
employees of the institution stood in dead,
fear Of his temper. He wound up his career
in England, in 1877, by killing his keeper
whom he dashed to the floor with his trunk.
and trampled into an unrecognizable aud
shapeless mass IN the elephants quarter OF
the menagerle.
After this fatal escapade he was chained
TO the ground, in which position he was Of
fered for sale and purchased by Barnum.
Then the beast was secured so that he could
scarcely move, preparatory TO shipment and
so great was the terror in which he was
held BY the hardened menagerie employees
that men could hardly be obtained to assist
in the operation Of dragging him TO the
vessel. His trunk was chained under his
belly, his legs were fastened so that he could
only move them two or three inches at time.
and in this way he was taken on ship board
and kept during the voyage.
Pilot did not reform when he reached
America. On the contrary, his wickedness
grew with his growth and strengthened
with his strength. One keeper after an
other gave him up as . hopeless case and
refused TO have ANYTHING to do with him,
until finally William Newman took the saw
age brute in charge and managed to OBJ
tain the mastery over him. Before he was
taken in charge by Newman, he had injured
several of his keepers, had killed few dogs,
who ventured within his reach, and had at
tackled and hurt several others of his own
species.
Last spring he became savage in the win
ter quarters Of the menagerie at Bridgeport,
broke loose and made havoc among the
other animals, and was oni. sLbdued after
great difficulty. While the circus was per-
forming in Madison Square Garden last
spring he struck keeper named Morgan,
who passed within reach of his trunk and
! knocked him senseiess. Then the ugly
! brute reached for the unconscious man with
us trunk, drew him craftily inside his rope,
| and was about to trample him as he had
"A L.. -, -
stall came into the stable just in time to
save the mans life. Since then the en-
| ployes of the show have lived in constant
4 dread Of the animal. and it was usual
| thing on the road when Pilot showed any
signs of temper, for all to bolt but Newman,
who has always been able to subdue him.,
All day "Wednesday fit Of viciousness
was upon him, and he stood swaying from
side to side with his malicious little eyes
| glaring vengeance at every one who ap-
preached him. Occasionally he would at
tempt to pull up the iron stake to which ne
was attached by leaning back upon his
launches and then making rush to the end
of his chain. He tore down three 10 inch
4 posts which were within his reach, battered
down a chin ley, and attempted to beat in
the briss ys of Madison Square Garden,
and his sngg, bellowings we're heard for
many blocks around. He manifested par
| tieular spite against Newman, and with
/ frightful screams attempted to get at him
wheDeFer he came in sight.
After tbs show closed on Wednesday
night preparations we're Mads for the sub
jugation Of the beast, Elephants are brought
to terms when they manifest vioiousness BY
being thrown and thrashed until they squeai.
When an elephant squeals. he is subdned
! and viii give no further trouble for the time
being aftef be is let up. Sometimes they
will undergo fearful punishment before thus
crying enough and iq seysse cases il has
been necessary TO burn them With Fed-ho,