Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-09-17
Great Jumbo Killed.

THE " BIGGEST ELEPHANT ON
EARTH BUN DOWN BY A
FRElGHT TRAIN.
DIED IN FIFTEEN MINUTES
TORONTO, Ont, Sept. 16.-A most
serious event for the pFoprietors OF the
greatest show ON earth happened last
evening on the Air Line at st. Thomas,
Ont, about 100 miles West of here,
when Jumbo, the world. famous ele-
phant, was killed by being run into by .
freight from the East.
Jumbo was general favorite with
all, more especially the children, many
thousands Of whom have enjoyed ride
on his broad back. He was the great
attraction Of the show, and his value
to the proprihtors cannot be estimated.
Shortly after the ring performance in
the large tent commenced last evening,
the circus employees began TO load up.
The loading wns 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 plat
form by Tom Thumb, the trick elephant
gand o clown, the employees 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 menagerie combined. just as they
were being taken along the main track
la freight. train approached from the
East. Signals were given, and, about
the same time, the engineer noticed the
elephants on the track and whistlcd for
down brakes three times and reversed
his engine, but the track there being a
down grade the train could hot be
stopped.
STRIKING THE GIANT.
| Jumbo Was ahead, in charge of hia
keeper, Mr.. Scott, known to all the
circus people as Scotty, with Tom
Thumb in the rear. When Scotty no
ticed the danger he urged his elephant
to increase his pace, and the noble ami
NAL started on a run down the track
with its keeper bravely running by It's
side. But 1t was no use, the train
could not be stopped, and as il came
Numbering along, first struck the
clown elephant, throwing him into the
lditch, and then dashed into Jumbo,
THE shock was rs If two trains had
leone together, and the freight train was
stopped, the engine and two cars were
ldersiled. Jumbo was strnck IN the
rear, and as the cowcatcher hit him he
lemitted loud roar and fell, the engine
and edge of the first car passing along
his back and infitcting 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 engine will have to b.
sent TO the shop and be rebuilt. The
oowcatcher, the headlight and bell wer'
smashed, and the sides of the engine
badly damaged, the steps to enter tn,
box being knocked out Of position.
/ DRAGGING HIM oVF TEE 7, OK.
/ A few minutes after the accident oc-
Icured men were set to work to pull poo
4 Jumbo off the track. Large cable rope
Il were attached to him, one 70 the front
land the other to the back of his body,
! and about 100 men buckled onto thu
cable, while another force with planks
! and crow bars pried from behind. Al
ter about half an hour'e labor jumbo
/ body WAS dragged into the ditch.
While Jumbo was being pulled OF
the track the veterinary surgeons In con
nection with the show were attending
to the elephant Tom Thumb. 1t wa
found that his left hind leg had beel
? broken. 1t is expected that the lie
can be saved. After the limb was st
b lhe was lifted in car and taken witt
: the rest Of the animals when the trai
Q | left for London In the morning.
IL The measurements OF Jumbo's n
Q / mains give an idea of the immense si2
ol and weight of the animal Ctrcun
4 Terence Of fore leg, 8 it,, 9 in. aroun
b front foot, IT. 6 in. ; twice aroun
10 his foot Is about his height, viz. II #
.e length OF trunk, #. 4 in; around b
at tusk, / r.. 81 in; length of forelea, 8
Itl A telegram was sent last evenin
10 to the directors of the Smithsonian Il
Istitution, and their representatives 81
expec.ed In st. Thomas to akin che an
NAL and preserve the skeleton. II
IGrand Trunk people claim that the .
lcident was due to the circus men Il
er sisting on loading mp the cars at a d.
is ferent place to that assigned them
re the company and agreed upon.
l6I