The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1885-10-24
A MuRDRROUS BEAST.

was taken late on Saturday night
to Forepaugh's wiuter quarters.
The beast was in charge of Harry
Cooley, the only man who can
manage Empress, and John Flood.
The big elephant is very vicious.
The midnight journey was made
without accident, and by o'clock
the elephant was placed in a stall
aud securely shackled. Cooley
remained up all night with his
charge, and ut 10 o'clock fed and
watered it. Robert r. White, who
has charge Of the winter quarters.
came in during the morning to see
the elephant. He was quite proud
of his ability to manage elephants.
Dan Taylor, who has known
Empress for twenty years, left
White, John Allen and a negro
minstrel together in the elephant
house when he went home to din.
ner. Before going he said to
them: "White, don't go near Em-
press, for just RS sure as you do,
she'll kill you." Lob, that's all
right" returned White. This was
the second warning ON the same
subject that had been given him.
About u quarter of an hour later
White volunteered TO show Allen
and his companion how he could
manage the elephant, and proposed
to bring ii out and water il. They
advised him not to attempt il, but
he persisted. Going into the stall
he unlinked the shackles on EN-
press, who followed him to the
water trough aud took drink.
Empress had no sooner 6nished
than she wheeled suddenly about
without making u sound and struck
White q terrible blow with her
trunk, knocking him twenty fe,t
away, against a brick wall. She
followed up this work quickly by
disembowelling the helpless man
with her tusks, aud then raising
one ponderous fore.foot, she set il
il down upon him, crushing bis
breast bone and shoulder. blade e.
Allen and friend fed at the first
blow and gave the alarm. A
crowd diately collected al
the entrance Of the house, but nc
Que dared enter.
Empress stood over her victim
swinging her trunk viciously
Dan Taylor arrived in a few min
utes, and taking in the situation
at u glance seized an elepban
. spear and prepared to 20 t'
Whites rescue. "Don't go in,
yelled the crowd; "she'll kill you |!
: II can't stand by and see that ma
lying there," replied Taylor resc
lutely. He advanced, spear i
, hand, and in a low, cool tone con
manded Empress to 60 bacl
Slowly and sullenly she backe
away, aud as she retired Taylo
advanced until he had reache
Whites body. There he stopped
and John Coyle ran forward, picl
ed up the injured man and carrie
him out. When Keeper Coole
was notified of what had occurre
he burst into tears. Then he ra
r over to Forepaugh's and too
4 charge of the elephant aud in
' few moments she was once NOR
shackIed. John Coyle laid bi
# burden down in the sawdust thf
covers the practising ring and sci
!. for an ambulance. While awai
o ing its arrival Dan Taylor said I
, White: "Bob, why did you go !
II therer "Just to be SMART r,
d piled White, who was still perfec
r. ly conscious. "But Pm all broke
y up now, DAM White died Will
being taken TO the hospital.
n 1t is not known what dispos
n tion will be made of Empress, br
d it is not supposed that she will b
I. killed, as she is very valuable, b,
n ing regarded rs the finest perform
g ing elephant in this countr.
= While on exhibition she is docil
n and children are permitted TO pt
s her. Empress has now killed he
u third man, and her record include
|. tho ipjuring of at least score {
: men. She killed her first yictil
in July, 1876, at Binghamton, ]
Y. He was canfasman. who ha
been repeatedly told to keep ava
j, from her; but he persisted in b
n ing familiar, until one day sl
| flung him across the menagerI
n tent, injuring him fatally. Sh
Il dispatched the next man in til
/. latter part of August while til
!. show was here. He was a he
II tent hand aud had stolen some ,
n her hay to make bed for himsel
n When she had finished what bs
n was left she wanted more al
/. went after it. She found the thi
r under the wagon, and handled hi
N SO roughly that lie died in Il