The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-09-25
Jumbo Killed.
STRUCK BY AN ElteINE IN ONTARIO.

hO
arrived here from Chatham yesterday
morning and unloaded near where
their tents were pitched, a short dis
tance east of Melor street. While the
evening performance was in progress
the usual plan OF loading the animals
was proceeded with. There are thirty
one elephants in connection with the
show and of these all had been placed
on board of the cars with the exception
of the famous Jumbo and Tom Thumb,
the dwarf clown elephant, who created
so much merriment during the perfor-
nance. AS these two were walked
along the track to reach their cars,
about half past nine o'clock, a special
freight, run by Engineer William Bur-
nip, approached from the east. The
engineer noticed the elephants on the
track and whistled for brakes three
times and reversed his engine. But
just at that point the track was on a
down grade and the train could not be
stopped. 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 Jumbo to increase his pace
and the big animal started on q run
down the track, with his keeper brave
ly running by his side. But it was no
use. The train could not be held back
and as it came laundering along it first
struck the clown elephant and threw
him into the ditch and then dashed
into Jumbo. As it struck the monster
it was as if two trains had come to-
gether. The freight was stopped and
the engine and two cars were thrown
from the track. Jumbo was struck in
the hind legs and as the cow-catcher
hit him he gave vent to one loud roar
and fell. The engine and edge of the
first car passed along his back and in
ficted terrible bruises. Jumbo was
not instantly killed, but lived for fif-
teen minutes after being struck, expir-
ing while efforts were being made to
take him from under the train. The
engine was badly damaged and will
have to be sent to the shop and be re-
built. ...
DYING ON THE TRACK.
Almost as soon as the accident had
occurred men were set to work to get
the engine and cars on the track and
to pull poor Jumbo from the wreck.
Large cables were attached to him,
one to the front and another to the
back part of his body, and about one
hundred men buckled on to each cable,
while another force of men with planks
and crowbars pried from behind. AZ
ter about half an hours labor Jumbo's
body was pulled off the track into the
ditch. The circus employees ran about
with flaming torches, the cool head
master of the transportation gave or
ders to the hundreds of men at work,
while to one side stood Mr.. Hutchinson
and other managers of the show, ,griev-
ing oyer the Toss of their favorite.
The scene was one not soon to be for
gotten. While, Jumbo was being
pulled off the track the veterinary sur
geons connected with the show were
attending to the elephant Tom Thumb.
He had been thrown into the ditch and
it was found that his left hind leg had
been broken. 1t is expected that the
leg can be saved, and after his limb
was set he was lifted in the car and
taken with the rest of the animals on
the train which left for London this
morning.
After the accident, when the noise
and confusion had somewhat ceased so
that an examination could be made of
Jumbo, it was apparent that death was
upon him. There were deep flashes in
his flank, his feet we're torn and the
blood ran out of his mouth. He gave
one groan after being struck, then he
suffered in silence while the sands of
his life ran out. Long after life was
extinct his keeper, who brought him
from the Geological Gardens in Lon
don, lay on his body and wept. 4
Mr.. Barnum was at the Murray Hill
hotel in New York, and received four
kilograms announcing Jumbos death.
"All Europe was waiting to see
Jumbo said he, "but his sudden death
procludes our going abroad next season,
as we intended. It's no use going to
Europe without Jumbo, SO we'll travel
all over the United States with Jumbo's
skin stuffed and his skelt ton"
Jumbo has been exhibited to thous-
ands of children in this country and
many more in England. He was I'M
doubtedly the largest beast on the face
of the earth. He stood III feet high,
and weighed seven tons. His bulk
was such that front view of him was
almost as wonderful as side view.
The other elephants of other circuses
seemed like pigmies beside him. His
trunk for several feet after leaving his
head was as thick as 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 my herd. He was 20 years
old. His loss is indeed great.
SIN infancy Jumbo was captured by
band of Arabs in Africa. He was
brought across deserts on the back of
two camels lashsd together, and was
fed on camel's milk. At tender age
he was sold 10 the Jardin des Plantes
in Paris. While still little fellow
the Royal Geological Gardens, Re-
gents Park, London, came into pos
session of him by swapping other ami
mak. He was not considered won
derful elephant then, but when seven
or eight years old he began TO grow
fast. The story is that people came
to see him get bigger while they watch.
Cd him. As he attained his growth he
was used to carrying loads of children
upon his back about the gardens, and
when SO engaged was perfectly trac-
table. AS he grew older, however, he
showed an unruly disposition, and was
put under close confinement The
council of the Geological Society be-
came afraid that he would sacrifice life,
aud decided TO sell him. | immediate
ly opened negotiations for his purchase.
That was in the early part of 1882
For seventeen years the English chill