Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-24
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Now tho Favorite Elephant Came 60
an Untimeiy End.
In Wilmington, as elsewhere, the death
Of the famous elephant Jumbo, as an
nounced by telegraph in last weeks
GAZETTE. was received with genuine !
sorrow and regret. Dispatches to the
morning papers give the following par
tlculars OF the lamentable occurrence;
The BArnum, Bailey Il Hutchinson
show arrived at st. Thomns, Canada, from
Chatham, Tuesday morning and un-
loaded. While tho evening performance
was in progress the usual plan OF loading
The animals was proceeded with. There
are Al elephnnts in connection with the
nhow aud of these MI had been placed on
board Of the cars with the exception of
the lannon's Jumbo and Tom Thumb, the
dwarf clown elephant, who created so
mich nertiment during the performance.
As these two were being Walked along
the track to reach their cals. about 9.5u
o'clock, special freiglit,ruu by Engineer
William Burnip, approached from the
enst. The engineer noticed the elephants
on the track and whistled for brakes
three times and reversed his engine. But
lust nj that point the track was on dow
grade and the train could not be stopped
Jumbo was ahead, in charge OF hi
keeper. Mr.. Scott, known to all the circui
people as 'Scotty," with Tom Thumb il
the rear.
Whom "Scotty'' noticed the danger h
urged Jumbo to increase his pace and tn
bie animal started ON a run down tn
track. with his keeper bravely runninI
bv his side. But il was no use. Tn
train could not be held back and as
came laundering along it first struck til
clown elephant and threw him into tn
ditch and then dashed into Jumbo. A
il struck the monster it was as If tw
trains had come together. The freigf
was stopped and the engine and two cal
were thrown from the truck. Jumh
was struck in the hind legs aud as ii
cow-catcher hit him he gave vent to OF
loud roar and fell. The engine and edo
of the first car passed along his back IN
inflicted terrible bruises. Jumbo was ni
instantly killed, but lived for Is 9fSt
after being struck, expiring ylgfttes
were being made 70 take hiHe efforts
me Galatea within a s'T;-.ili from under
the train. The engine was badly dam
noed and will have to be sent to the shop
and be rebuilt.
Almost as soon as the accident had
occurred men we're set at work to get the
engine and cars on the track and to pull
moor Jumbo from the wreck. Large
cables were attacked to him, one to the
front and another to the buck part OF his
body and about one hundred men buekled |
on 10 each cable, while another force OF |
men with planks and crowbars pried from |
behind. After about half an hours labor |
Jumbo's body was pulled of the track
into the ditch. The circus employees ran
about with flaming torches, the cool head
master of transportation gave orders TO
the hundreds of men ut work, WINE 70
one side stood Mr.. Hutchinson and other
managers of the show, grieving over the
loss of their favorite. The scene was
one soon not to be forgotten. While
Jumbo was being pulled oil the track the
veterinary surgeons connected with the
show were attending to the elephant Tom
Thumb. He had been thrown into Q
ditch and ii was found that his left hind
leg had been broken. II is expected that
the leg can be saved, and after the limb
was set he was lifted in car and taken
with the rest of the animals on the tram
which left for London this morning.
After the accident, when the noise and
confusion had somewhat ceased SO that
IN examination could be made of Jumeo,
it was apparent that death was upon HIM,
There were deep gashes in his flank, his
feet were torn and the blood ran out oi
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 London, lny on his body and wept.
A great many of the thousands OF spec
tators who visited the dead elephant the
next day clipped some souvenir from tho
body. Some were satisfied with one q
the long still hairs which grew in his tau
others cut off pieces of lacerated hide q
feet and one boy, holder than the rest
appropriated piece of his ear. But TIN
vandalism was finally stopped by specia
policeman who WAS placed on guard owe
the remains The representatives OF til
Smithsonian Institution are expected her
in a few days, when the animal will b
skinned and his hide and skeleton pr,
served. The Grand Trunk people CLAN
that the accident was due to the circu
men insisting on loading up the cars Mt
different place to that assigned them
the company and agreed upon.
Jumbo was formerly a British possas5lo
and for years was one OF the leading q
fractions of the London geologic
Garden. Thousands Of little iingoes ha
taken rides on his broad back, and hui
dreds of indigestible substances known
''buns" in the British metropolis La
been his dnily tribute; but fame nev
came to the vast beast until the entl
prising Barnum coveted his possessio
and finally, in the spring of 1882, pr
chased him from the London Zoologit
Society for 100000.
When the news of the sale was me
toned in the papers n howl of indignant
burst from the British public. Whetl
it was love for Jumbo or jealousy of
American having secured possession
the huge beast which caused this sudt
exhibition of feeling is an open questi
However, all sorts of attempts "
made by Jumbo's English admirers
prevent his leaving the country, and e.
one or two law suits were begun "
that end. But the opposition was fnt
and Jumbo was brought here.
LONDON, Sept. 17.-Ihis mornil
papers contain columns of obitu
notices and "reminiscences of Jumbo.
Telegraph appears with huge head-l
announcing the sad end of the childr
fayorite and describing the manner