Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-17
JUMBO KILLED ON THE TRACK.

1 Run Down by a Freight Train and Fatally Injured-The Trick Ele- phant Tom Thumb Has His Leg Broken.
 ST. THOMAS, Ont, Sept. 16.-Jumbo, the $500, ,000 elephant belonging to Barnum, was killed on the Grand Trunk Air Line track half a mile east of here last night.
 His keeper was leading him along the track
 to load him, when . freight train came up be-
 hind >unnoticed and ran him down. He was
 injured so badly that he died in thirty min
 utes. The trick elephant Tom Thumb was also injured, his leg being broken.
 Jumbo probably the most famous ele- phant that ever lived and at the time of his death was the largest animal in captivity He belonged to the African species and was about twenty-five years of age. Taken to the London Geological gardens when baby, as he attained his growth he was used to convey loads of children upon his back about the gardens and when employed was per fectly tractable. As he grew older, however, he manifested an unruly disposition when closely confined and it was for this reason, l it is said, that the council of the Geological society decided to sell | him when MT. P. T. Barnum opened nego- tiations for his purchase in the early part of 1882. They feared that he would become possessed by the peculiar insanity to which elephants at certain stages of life are sub l ject. hen, however, the fact became known that the council had made definite l contract to sell Jumbo to Mr. Barnum for e2,00O, great indignation was expressed by the London press, and in 8 short
 time an extraordinary popular 'scraze" on the subject was developed in England. Jumbo became the chief l topic of the day, and his removal from | WI ted | lamity. Every effort was made to prevent | it, even including an injunction suit in chance"y, and the matter was brought before l the House of Commons. The members of 1 the council, roandiy denounced as they were, | adhered to their legal contract, and late in March, 1852, Jumbo embarked for the United States board the steamship Assy- rian Monarch. For weeks before the ele- plants departure the Zooloa ical Gardens were visited by crowds of men, women and children of all classes of society, who went to take a farewell look at Jumbo and to feed 1 him with buns and other delicacies. Popular feeling ran so high that there were rumors that a riot would take place when he was conveyed through the streets to the steam ship dock, but the removal was made in the l early morning hours without causing any demonstrations except those of farewell. Accounts of the arrangements for the ele- l plants embarkation, of his voyage, and of his arrival here were published at great length in the newspapers of London and New York. The Assyrian Monarch arrived l in New York on Sunday morning, April 9, ! 1882, after 8 voyage of fourteen days, and Jumbo was landed in good ! condition. The elephant and the immense | iron bound box in which be was caged | weighed together twelve and half tons. The | box and it's freight were hoisted from tine l steamship by floating derrick, which was 1 lowed to Pier 1, and the imprisoned elephant ! was then hauled by sixteen horses to the l Madison Square Garden, which was occupied \ by Barnum's circus. Jumbo soon became l reconciled to his new surroundings, and he has been exhibited, in connection with Bar ! num's show, to great numbers of people in ! many parts of the country. It is said that l the total cost of bringing him to the United 1 States was $20,000, exclusive of the price | paid for him.
 l The height of Jumbo was eleven feet and a l half. His immense bulk was such that 8 front view of him was about as imposing as
 8 side view. Other elephants looked like ! pigmies beside him. His trunk for several 1 feet after leaving his head was thick 8 stout mans body. When he lifted his head | and stretched his trunk upward, he could ! reach up twenty-six feet, or five feet higher ! than the largest of the other elephants in his owners extensive herd.