New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-19
MURDER OF AN ELEPHANT.
SHOT AT FOUR TINES WITH A RIFLE.
ATTEMPTING TO END HIS LIFE WITH SHORT KNIFE |
AGONY OF THE ANIMAL

ATTEMPTING TO END HIS LIFE WITH SHORT hNfh
AGONY OF THE ANIMAL
"Hunky- Dory," an elephant, was porn IN 'he
unges OF India six years ago when he WAS TWO ye'rs
old he captured and sent to this country wDere 10
became the property OF John Doris, Snowman huDA'
Dory was awkward and uneduca,ed AZ any elephant
fresh from his native forest might be- but he was doce
and goo natured and before long became refined ana
polished animal possessing all the acquired qualities OF
civilized life Z He happy 10 his adopted nome ana
nothing came to his pleasure except an oceasohai
thrust from his trainers spear, when his temper DC
came dlsr rbed until last Friday night The circus had
been at Yonkers during the day and Hunky-Dory had
done his part toward entertaining the visi5oIs.
walked the tight rope, played seesaw With q brother
elephant, waltzed and danced on upturned tubs aud
with exceeding great had carried children around
the ring.
After getting through With his days work he was led
out into lot and left with bundle OF hay TO pass
the night The precaution had been taken to put
heavy chain around leg and fasten 1t to post In
the morning when his keeper went to give him MS
breakfast great tears stood Hunky Dorys checks and
he held up OF his front legs II In pain An exaDi-
nation showed that the leg broken superintendent
Conkn, OF the menagerie in Central Park was sent Tor
He told Mr.. Doris that 1t would be long time before
the elephant could perform again. On the following
day the elephant put into car and taken to jersey
CITY, While he there Mr.. Doris decided to send
him to Central Park and have him killed. big critic
trnckbroneht bin New York and Tuesday night he
ru into little building just back OF tue menagore
in the park. He could not lie down, and lie eto0i
moaning and crying with pain.
Mr.. COnkin decided TO have him shot att o'clock last
evening few minutes before that hour the elephant
followed Of the par keep out OF the door OF
temporary home. All his legs EXCEPT the broken one
were tied securely with large chihs, and ropes forming
a triangle ar,und him were fastened to the heavy iron
fence. Henry Bersh had been informed that the shoot
ing to take place and he scnt his nephew Henry
Borgh jr and two of his men To see that no cruelty
WAS praoscd. Mr. COnklin marked spot at the base
OF the elephants brain with white chalk. for Peter
Shannon. OF Tho keepers. who to fire tao fatal
shot But Icnno-s Richardson, taxidermist OF tue
Museum OF Natural History disagreed with Mr. Conkin
the place where tho bail penetcato the brain
quickest and marked another white spot over tle ght
temple During this argument and pref ardtlOn the
elephant stood with the injured log drawn up and whn-
| lug liteOusy.
Tic crowd waited patiently while Shannon raised the
rifle his shoulder and took long careful aim and
pulled the trigger load below from tho elephant aud
the sharp report OF the he sounded almost t0Goher
Every cctcd the animal full. but ne STOOD
ashing tail throwing his body from side 10 side
all the irumpetins loudly stream OF blood that
trickled down his face showed the ball hal gone
Straight to tho mark. Another shot was hred ana tls
only effect t. Increase possible tho aniiVs Dell
lowing. Mr. Richardson now acknO EleGgcl the lncOr-
rectes OF his theory and shannon was tod 70 ann al
the white ST at the back OF the head. DO ala so. an
pavement kicking and writing III death agony. A
keeper stepped forward with butchers knifo 10 sever
the iuglaI yein hut after driving IL into the neck
several times Ii found that tle blade was TOO snort,
and other bali fired ut close range into the Dral
Four i've men with knives went to work to remove
| the hide Mr.. Richardson made plaster cast OF the
eyes and with an assistant began removing the head.
| The skull Is TO to the Museum OF Natural History.
DR.. Sptzga the insanity expert, will examine the brain
the three unnrci crs viii he made into stools Tor the
| Museum, and tho broken ono Will be examined by Dr.
Lian'ur. OF the American Veterinary college, There
VIII be about 80 and oe-nai tons OF hs anu nlte, !.
has renamed In an ice-house for a day or two the
ami mails ia the mcnagorc will least eler liant steak