Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-09-25
HOW JUMBO WAS KILLED.
The Biggest Elephant on Earth Run
Down by Freight Train.

y
of here, when Jumbo, the world
famous elephant, was killed by be-
ing run into by freight from the
east. Shortly after the ring perfor.
nance in the large tent commenced
last evening, the circus employees
began to load up. The loading
was done just in front of whree
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 platform by Tom Thumb
the trick elephant, and clown, the
employees proceeded to load the AMI
mails. All the elephants were load
ed, 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 men
agerie combined. Just as they
were being taken along the main
track a freight train approached
from the east. Signals were given
and, about the same time, the ell
glneer noticed the elephants on the
track and whistled for down breaks
three times and reversed his engine
but the track there being a down
grade the train could not be stop
ped.
STRIKING THE GIANT.
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 urg
ed his elephant to increase his
pace, and the noble animal started
on a run down the track, with its
keeper bravely running by its side.
But it was no use, the train could
not be stopped, and as it came
laundering along, first struck the
clown elephant, throwing him into
the ditch, and then dashed into
Jumbo. The shock was as if two
trains had come together, and the
freight train was stopped, the en-
CINE and two cars being derailed.
Jumbo was struck in the rear; and
as the cOwcatcher hit him, he emit.
ted loud roar and fell, the engine
and edge of the first car passing
along his back and inflicting terri
BILE bruises. Jumbo was not instant.
ly killed, but lived for fifteen min
utes after being struck, expiring
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 rebuilt. The cOwcatcher,
the headlight and bell were Sun ash
ed, and the sides of the engine
badly damaged, the steps to enter
the box being knocked out OF posi-
ton.
DRAGGING HIM OFF THE TRACK.
A few minutes after the accident
occurred men were set to work to
pull poor Jumbo off the track.
Large cable ropes we're attached to
him, on to the front and another to
the back part of his body, and
about 500 men buckled onto the
cable, while another force with
planks and crowbars pried from
behind. After about half an hours
labor Jumbo's body was dragged
into the ditch. While Jumbo was
being pulled off the track the vete-
rinary surgeons in connection with
the show were attending to the ele.
plant Tom Thumb. 1t was found
that his left hind leg had been
broken. 1t is expected that the
leg can be saved. Alter the limb
was set he was lifted in a car and
taken with the rest of the animals
when the train left for London in
the morning.
The measurements of JumbO's re-
mains give an idea Of the immense |
size and weight of the animal:
circumference of fore led, D feet |
inches; around front foot, D feet |
inches twice around his foot is
about his height, viz, Ii feet;
length of trunk, Z feet 4 inches
around his tusk, 1 foot 3 l 2 inches,
length OF fore leg, 6 feet. A tele-
gram was sent to the directors OF
the Smithsonian Institution, and |
their representatives are expected
in st. Thomas to skin the animal
and preserve the skeleton. The
Grand Trunk people claim that the
accident was due to the circus men
insisting on loading up the cars at
a different place to that assigned |
them by the company and agreed |
upon.
HE LOSr HIS LIFE WHILE TRYING TO |
SAVE HIS LITTLE FAY0RIrE TOM
THUMB.
A Buffalo special says: From |
advices received to-day, through |
circus people who witnessed the |
killing of Barnum's elephant, jun
DO, it appers that the noble beast
lost his life while trying to save
that of his favorite, the baby trick
elephant Tom Thumb. When
Jumbo saw the impending danger,
which was not until the locomotive
was almost upon him, he grasped
his little friend in his trunk and
hurled him far out of danger. The
little beast struck against box
car with sufficient force to break
his leg, and lay there whining like
a wounded puppy. Jumbo made
an effort to save himself then, but
it was too late and he was crushed.
Not only the engine but five box
cars were forced from the track by
the accident. The Grand Trunk
company, which controls the wires
at st. GATHERINGS, has attempted TO
keen back the news and the facts