Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-14


Both followed him to the water trough and
took drink. Empress had no sooner finish
ed than she VII eled suddenly about, without
making a sound, and struck White terrible
blow with her trunk, knocking him twenty
feet away against a brick wall. She followed
up this work quietly by disemboweling the
helpless man with her tusks, and then. rails
ing one ponderous forefoot, set it down upon
him, crushing his breastbone and shoulder
blade.
Alien and his friend fed at the first blow
and gave the alarm. A crowd Immediately
collected at the entrance OF the house, but
no one dared enter. Empress stood over her
victim swinging her trunk viciously. Some
body ran for Dan TAYLOR. who lives IN the
neighborho0d He arrived in a few moments.
and, taking in the situation at glance,
seized an elephant spear and prepared to go
to Whites rescue.
Don't go in. DAN" yelled the crowd,
she'll kill YOU"
Il cam. stand by and see that man lying
there" replied Taylor, resolutely. He adj
vanced, spear in hand. into the long dimly.
lighted passage way, and in low, cool tone
commanded Empress to go back.
The INJURED MAN RESCUED.
Slowly and sulenly she backed away, and
as she retired, Taylor advanced until he had
reached Whites body. There he stopped,
and John Coyle ran forward quickly, picked
up the injured man and carried him out.
When Keeper Cooley was notified of wha:
had occurred, he had just been awakened
from sound sleep He is very fond OF
Empress, and wringing his hands he burst
into tears Then he ran over TO Forepaughs
and took charge of the elephant, and in few
nlr,fz ahs., Tnn
John Coyle laid his burden down in the
sawdust that covers the practicing ring. and
an ambulance was sent for. While awaiting
its arrival, Dan Taylor said to White:
Bob why did you 90 in there!"
Just to be smart" replied White, who
was still perfectly conscious. but I'm all
broken up now, Dan"
An ambulance from the Episcopal Hospital
came and White was placed in it, but he died
before three squares had been traversed. The
body was taken charge of by the coroner, and
the case will be carefully investigated White
leaves a wife and several children, He was
about IS years of age. An examination OF
the wounds showed that the breast bone was
crushed and the shoulder blade broken There
was a sickening hole in the stomach, made
by the tusk, and the inside of the left leg
was ripped from the knee upward for over
twelve inches. The head was also cut and
bruised from striking the wall. The
wall and floor in the hall way of
the elephant house were spattered with
blood. The savage monster was taken back
to the circus grounds again at midnight last
light and will be removed to other winter
quarters.
1t is not yet known what disposition will
be made of Empress, but it is not supposed
that she will be killed, as she is very valua-
bic, being regarded as the finest performing
elephant in this country. While on exhibit
ton she is docile, and children are permitted
to feed her. 1t is claimed by the circus en-
ployes that White was entirely to blame for
the affair, He had charge of the buildings of
the winter quarters, but he had nothing what
ever to do with O'Bren's elephant, and had
been repeatedly warned to stay away from
her.
THE ANIMALS BAD RECORD.
Empress has now killed her third man, and
her record includes the injuring of at least a
score of others. She has long been consid-
cred an extremely dangerous beast. Most
circus men knew her reputation, and her
keeper claims that most of the injuries have
been due to the carelessness and recklessness
of those who receive them, as every man at
tached to the o. krien show has been warned
tn keep awav from her. While she is under
Keeper Cooley's care no trouble is expert
enCed and it is only when other people inte-
fere with and attempt to manage her that she
becomes angry. Empress killed her first
victim in July, 1876, at Binyhampton, n.
Y. He was a canvasman, who had been re-
peatedly told to keep away from her, but
ne persisted in being familiar, until
oh. tbn
nagerie tent against one of the animal cages,
injuriug him fatally. She despatched the
next man in the latter part of August, of this
year, while the show was at Broad and Dick
inson Streets. He was a new tent hand, and
came from Altoona. One night he stole some
of her hav to make a bed for him self under
a wagon. When she had finished what was
left she wanted more, and went after it. She
found the thief under the wagon. and handled
him 40 roughly that he Afterwards died in the
Pennsylvania Hospital. Robert r White
makes the third vicrim The circus men tell
of over n dozen men they can think of whom
Empress has injured more or less severely.
There are Billy and SANDY" and tom.
the cauvassman," and mike, the stakeman, -
and many others. none of whose last names
are ever known, who have felt the effects of
her violent bursts of temper. The only man
with the show now who suffered seriously is
John Wrightman, better known as "London,
who has charge of all the trappings and CAV
psraphernalia of the sawdust arena. At Bor-
dentown, n. j., last spring he disregarded
all warnings and attempted to fix saddle on
Empress. She resented his otficousness and
knocked him against the saddle with such
violence that great portion of his left side
has been psralyzed ever since. Empress is
supposed to be about 30 years old.-Phtia-
delphia Press.