Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-11-18
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TIE old brick building on Grand,
between Fourth and Fin streets,
Williamsburg, y. Y, formerly Occu-
pied as a Methodist church, but re-
Gently converted into a museum and
menagerie, was shortly after mid
night on Tuesday, october 27th, the
scene of a fierce combat between an
I enraged elephant, a fierce black-mansd
{ lion and George Goodwin, their keeper.
The trumpeting OF the elephant. the
hOwlS Of the maddened lion. and the
cries of the other frightened animals
confined in the menagerie, alarmed be-
lated pedestrians in the vicinity and
awakened Goodwin. who was asleep
up stairs. On rushing down he saw
that ten-year-Old elephant about six
feet high had broken HIS chain and was
engaged in a mad endeayor to batter
down the bars of a cage, in which was
confined a lion of the black-maned
species.
The elephant had thrust his huge
trunk into the cage and twisted the
lions tail, and the latter had turned
and caught the elephants trunk be-
tween his teeth The elephant sue
ceeded in breaking away, and twisting
his trunk around one of the lions hind
legs, he endeavored to drag the king
OF beasts through the bars. The howlS
of the lion, which could have been
heard for several blocks. gave evidence
that he strenOusly objected to any such
proceedings.
Goodwin and two other employees en-
deavored to subdue the elephant, and
Goodwin finally succeeded in sticking
his prong into the animals tongue.
The beast was led back TO his stall, and
chained to the floor, but the keepers
had scarcely turned their backs when
the animal again broke loose and
rushed toward the lions cage. The
men again attempted to lead him back
to his stall, but without success.
Suddenly the beast turned on Good
win, threw him 10 the floor, and
stamped upon him. He paused for an
instant, and Goodwin Immediately
sprang to his feet and got out of the
elephants way. The elephant made
another rush for his keeper, who this
time eluded him, and the beasts huge
tusks were buried deep into the heavy
planking which formed the walls.
While thus held prisoner, the men
quickly tied him to the floor with ropes
and chains, but not moment too soon,
for as the men were engaged in secur-
ing his feet, the elephant making a
frantic effort to release his tusks, his
huge body swayed to ald fro, and his
long white worries snapped, leaving the
greater portion imbeded in the wall.
But the animal was exhausted and he
quietly submitted to bis keeper.
The elephants injuries consist of
several long cuts in the head and his
trunk is scratched and bitten in ter
rible manner. The hind legs of the
| lion are believed to be dislocated, as he
is unable to stir, and his face IS greatly
scratched.
George Goodwin, the keeper, re-
ceived number of severe contuslonS
over his whole body, caused by the
tramplIng be received at the feet of the
elephant, and he considers his escape
from instant death miraculous. He is
confined to his home, and it will be
several days before he will resume his
duties at the museum.
a dislike appears to have existed for
some time between these two animals,
and the elephant has frequently an
noyed his neighbor by pulling and twist
ing his tail. This is the elephant that
about two years ago, while with Coup's
circus, killed the keeper, and a week
later. while the show was exhibing in
st. Louis, attacked his new keeper and
also killed him. He was recently pur-
chased 10y the proprietors Of the mu-
scum, and cage much stronger than
the others was built in which to con-
fine the beast.