Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-13
SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT.
p.ralyzed ny FaII-aer Death stFug-
sEes-A PititeI scene.


stretched on the ground Tuesday morn
inc behind the buffalo stables in the rear
nj inc arsenal in Central Park. Near it a
Persian COW with sleek black sides was
tsthered and her frolickiug young calf
was grazing. The elephant was known
os Dutch Mary, an African elephant only
eight years old, belonging to Barnum,
Bailey g Hutchinson. She had been in
This country only two years, but was an
intelligent and docile animal and great
fayorite in the circus. She advanced rap
idlv in her circus education and seemed
In enjoy the display of her Intelligence as
much us those who saw her. While Bar
NUNS circus was at Madison square Gar
den Ia March Dutch Mary slipped and
ION heavily while performing one of the
6elestai tricks. She did not appear muoh
injured at the time, 0ut the keeper dis
covered the next day that something wAs
U,rong. and the animal was taken out Of
The regular programme for treatment. In.
sfead OF recovering she became worse,
and when The circus left the garden Dutch
Mary was placed with another elephant
which was also indisposed under the care
Of Superintendent COnklin. of the Central
Park geological Gardens.
Ina few davs il was discovered BY Mr..
Coaklm that Mary was unable to use her
hind legs freely and there We're indica-
tons of paralysis. He consulted with
Df. 4. f. Liaulard, dean of the American
Veterinary College, who had been reCUes-
led Dy Ar. Bailey TO look after the health
ofthe elephant and who made calls on his
patient every day. They agreed on the
symptoms of paralysis and a course Of
treatment was determined on, involving
l9aj.ls tue u9e OF 5tFyChnine, which was
employed 90 cOunteract the disease.
Three powders of TWO grains each were
sirau Dutch Mary daily. Each one was
sufficient to Kill a healthy man, but the
elephant, whose weight was nearly two
t0us took them without any apparent
bad eject. Fol time she appeared to
mprcT, her appetite Increased wonder
u.ly and she gained in flesh But the
wee ri her mind legs gradually became
i.ss sH0 ee ., and month ago they gave
outenIreiy ana she was unable to get on
l-r te,t.
Eereity was employed, hut
SIR aren't from half dozen
ia-.tes seemed too weak to pen
ltra'. her tough hide. DR., IAau
u.d aggested that if they could secure
cDa0 tton with an electric light circuit
U.ht produce the desired result. hut
on further examination il was ascertain
et that HE paralysis was probably due to
airacfare of the vertebra caused BY her
iul. and m that case Mary was beyond
recovery. She suffered no pain and she
was removed from her companion TO the
iu1 10 stables. The strychnine treat
ment was kept up and her appetite con-
uued good, but for two weeks she has
rmaiaed in one posture, stretched on her
lat Side, recognizing everything that was
gong on around her and deVouring large
quantities of fresh-cut grass.
Poor old girl" said Superintendent
OohkiIn Yesterday morning az ne explain
ed the aiflic ions OF the animal. eve
can't do ANYTHING for her, and | expect
ihat we will have to put an end to her
soon. 1t is too bad, Molly"
Molly looked up at him with a bright
black eye and then twisted her trunk
around the arm Of DR.. Liautard, who had
just come up and now patted her on the
head
swirl have to be done,v said he. 81
i have just received a letter from Mr.. Bal
icy, Who tells NE, if / think there is
DO hope, she had better be killed. l hate
TO do it. though"
superintendent COuklin gave it as his
opinion that there was no chance of re-
coyery. A keeper was sent to the arsenal
anu returned presently, bringing a Win
CHESTER repeating rifle loaded with half
ounce conical balls. The park policemen.
Grove oackthe crowd that collected though
line of wagons and another crowd col
ected on drive at some distance. The
Persian cow looked alarmed at these pre-
CAUTIONS, but her calf became curious
ld had 20 be driven away. The buffa-
oes in the stables took alarm and looked
wildly, but Dutch Mary put out her
tlnk and ran IL over the barrel of the
ine and the doctor and superintendent
'ufned away their heads.
ann IN straight line right alongside
hef eye, Pete" said Mr.. Conklin, $50
Is TO reach the BRAIN"
Inc SICK elephant of sudden lifted her
ls'u and sent out a trumpet-like roar OF
1afh' Then her head fell back against
wy stable wall, so that 1t was necessary
pry her huge body away from the wall.
le seemed to realize her danger and her
w showed alarm, but she was helpless
nsi hef hrst exertiOn. The keeper took
~ aim standing within few feet of her
eaa. There was q loud report, and
Du'el mary lifted her head with bright
epol IN the centre OF it where the ball
l tAtefed, and uttered terrific roar al
ioat mat startled all the animals in
e saFNens. The COW began 10 below
lu Ioe buIalOes plunged in their sta
"nle the lions and tigers walked 10
NV 10 lh lnelr cages a short distance
49, ana roared in response. This effort
l"eled moment when the elephants
au sank down again exhausted. The
SgNut had not reached a fntal spot. An
otl uaen and report and another red
Nas imprinted on the huge head
ae i0Wer than the first. The eyes Of
fHSu Wary glared furiously. A stream
viVou spurted from her trunk as she fill
.uu air with piercing rOars. With a
Icuoous effort she raised herself on
ole leet-no longer dOcile, but thrash
nol nead tercely to and fro with the
rrt VI reaching some one with her
on,N mhlch coiled in the air like SER
go r', \ or moment it seemed as if she
ao ou'u ilit her whole body to her feet once
~ put the strain was too great. Her
act epened into grOan, aud she fell
oea, l lea' NY on the ground. The move
ti o, N"9 placed her body in a better pO-
the. lbe keeper pointed his rifle back
and anIHlai' 5 ears and fred. A culver
al Any through the great brown body, and
n, ltf eyes were turned back. a cur
mn5 uiack blood ran from the last
asc ae, ana IN a few moments Dutch Mary
Eom 'nan five minutes were occupied
Xreat54,D Hist shot until she bad ceased
bdens' The body will be taken 10 the
nm s metory in East Thirty-eighth
bt. ape legs were cut of ut the lower
WO were eent ia Mr. RniIev ono