The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-24
Great Jumbo Killed.

of the greatest show on earth happened
last week on the Air Line at st. Thomas,
Ont. when Jumbo, the world-famous ele-
plant, was killed by being run into by a
freight from the East.
Jumbo was a general fayorite with all
more especially the children, many thous.
ands Of whom have enjoyed a ride on his
broad back. He was the greatest attrac.
ton OF the show, and his value to the pro-
prietors cannot be estimated.
Shortly after the ring performance in
the large tent commenced last evening.
the circus employees began to load up.
The loading was done just in front OF
where the tents were pitched on the main
property. A train of Barnum S cars stood
on the siding, the main track being clear.
After the act had been gone through with
on the circus platform by Tom Thumb
the trick elephant, and clown, the en-
ployees proceeded to load the animals.
All the elephants were loaded, with the
exception of Jumbo and Tom Thumb. the
two most valuable in the herd-in fact.
valued more than all the rest of the men
agerie combined. Just as they were being
taken along the main track freight train
1 approached from the East. Signals were
given, and, about the same time, the
engineer noticed the elephants on the
track and whistled for down brakes three
times and reversed his engine, but the
track there being a down grade the train
| could not be stopped.
STRIKING THE GIANT.
Jumbo was ahead, in charge of his
keeper. Mr.. Scott, known to all the circus
people as Scotty, with Tom Thumb in the
rear. When Scotty noticed the danger he
urged his elephant to increase his pace,
and the noble animal started on a run
down the track. with its keeper bravely
running by its side. But it was no use.
the train could not be stopped, and as it
came laundering along, first struck the
clown elephant, throwing him into the
ditch, and then dashed into Jumbo. The
shock was as if two trains had come to-
gether. and the freight train was stopped.
Cus
Jumbo was struck in the rear, and, as the
cowcatcher hit him he emitted loud roar
and fell, the engine and edge of the first
Car passing along his back and inflicting
terrible bruises.
Jumbo was not instantly killed, but
lived for fifteen minutes after being struck,
expiring while efforts were being made to
take him from under the train. The en-
CINE was badly damaged and will have to
be sent to the shop and be rebuilt The
cow-catcher, the headlight and bell were
smashed, and the sides of the engine badly
damaged, the steps to enter the box being
Knocked out of position.
DRAGGING HIM OFF THE TRACK.
A few minutes after the accident &C.
Cured men were set to work to pull poor
Jumbo off the track. Large cable ropes
were attached to him, one to the front and
another to the back part of his body, and
about 100 men buckled onto the cable,
while another force with planks and crow
bars pried from behind. After about half
an hours labor Jumbo's body was dragged
into the ditch.
While Jumbo was being pulled off the
track the veterinary surgeons in connec-
tlon with the show were attending to the
elephant Tom Thumb. It was found that
his left hind leg had been broken. 1t is
expected that the leg can be saved. After
the limb was set he was lifted in car and
taken with the rest of the animals when
the train left for London in the morning.
The measurements of Jumbo's remains
give an idea of the immense size and
weight Of the animal: circumference of
fore leg, 5 it. in; around front foot, 5 #.
+ in; twice around his foot is about his
height, viz, II it.; length of trunk. Z #. 4
ln.; around his tusk, fit. 81 in; length of
foreleg. 6 #.
A telegram was sent last evening to the
directors of the Smithsonian Institute,
and their representatives are expected in
st. Thomas to skin the animal and pre-
serve the skeleton. The Grand Trunk
people claim that the accident was due to
the circus men insisting on loading up the
>NsAH
Them by the company and agreed upon
AN INTERNATIONAL BEAST.
Jumbo was formerly British posses
sion and for years was one of the leading
attractions OF the London Geological Gar
den. Thousands of little jingoes have
taken rides On his broad back, and hun
dreds Of indigestible substances known as
buns" in the British metropolis have
been his daily tribute; but fame never
came to the vast beast until the enterpris-
ing Barnum coveted his possession, and
finally, in the spring of 1882, purchased
him from the London Geological Society
for $4,000
When the news of the sale was men
TONED In the papers howl of Indignation
burst from the British public. Whether
it was love for Jumbo or jealousy of an
American having secured possession of
the huge beast which caused this sudden
exhibition of feeling is an open question.
However, all sorts of attempts were made
by Jumbo's English admirers to prevent
his leaving the country, and one or two
lawsuits were begun with that end. The
opposition was futile. Firstly, the au-
thorities Of the Zoo have the right to dis
pose of any Of the animals in the light of
personal property, and, secondly, they
justified their action by asserting that
Jumbo had grown so vicious that his pos
session had become a source of grave ap-
prehenslon to his keepers.
Jumbo had still another ordeal to un-
dergo before sailing from England. He
became the subject Of personal INQUIRY
in Parliament. Mr.. Labodchere. the
quizz.cal editor of Truth, gravely informed
the Secretary of the Board of Trade ssthat
his attention having been called to the
yiciousness of the huge elephants dispo-
sition, he wished to know whether proper
measures had been taken for the safety of
the other passengers Oh board the steamer
Assyrian Monarch" The secretary. Hon.
Evelyn Ashley, a son Of Lord SALISBURY.
the philanthropical earl who is the special
patron and protector of animals, replied
that every necessary precaution had been
taken, and that there was no danger to be
apprehended. Finally Jumbo left for this