The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-20
HE K1LLEp ELEvEN MEN.
Adam Forepaugh's Murderous Ele-
plant, Chief" Condemned and Ez-
from me Ne1r YORK star.

ecuted.
From me NelC York Star.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 11-Tne elephant
Chief. vino had killed eleven men, was
executed at the winter quarters Of Adam
Forepaugh's menag erie in this city yester-
Aay. Chief had been marked for slaughter
for some time, and it was intended that he
should be killed by an electric shock, be-
cause be had become vicious and unmanage-
able, and il was feared that he would kill
some of his attendants.
Word was sent 70 Adam Foreaauxh, Jr.
Yesterday, that Chief was exhibiting dan
gerous symptoms, and was likely at any
moment to break out and do some fearful
damage both TO life and property. 1t was
evident at once that prompt measures were
necessary, and that it would not do to wait
for the perfecti3g of the electric apparatus
with which il had been proposed that tine
animal should be artistically executed
The vicious beast was trumpeting and
creating wild panic in the quarters where
he was confined IL was dangerous work
even to approach him. as he had worked
himself into a frightful condition Of excite
nent. No one could tell at what moment
in a frenzy Of madness, he might break the
chains which held him and spread death and
destruction in mis- path. How to XII the
brute quickest was the question to be de-
cided. Ee had upon former occasi5n
proved himself proof against rife bullets,
and after some delberatio1 1t was deter
mined TO strangle him TO death.
The dangerous and difficult task Of pu.-
ting rope about the elephants neck was
promptly assumed by Adam Forepaugh, j.
A rope half an i1ch in diameter and twelve
feet In length was sent for, and the show
man stepped feaTlessly iato the stall occJ-
MED by Chief. who was in a frigntful rage
and could have crushed him with single
stroke Of his great trunk. But happily the
habit of obedience at the moment prevailed
over the brute's rage, and with deft move
ment Mr. ForepaUgh slipped the big rope
over his trunk and hitched it with a slip
knot over the tender part Of his neck and
over the jugUlar vein Four feet Of the
rope was left dangling upon either side, and
having accomplished this, the most danger
Gus part Of the business, Mr.. Forepaugh
rushed out Of the stall. Two of the trained
Acknowledgement and Basil-were then
brought in and one placed on each side Of
Chief
Chains were attached TO the ends Of the
rope about Chiefs neck and they were
fastened securely about the shoulders of
Bismarck and Basil. A keeper took position
at the side Of each Of these elepants, and az
sign from Mr.. Forepaugh gave the word
to them, and the animals started on a run
To opposite directions
The shock threw Chief to his knees.
The two trained elephants pulled the rope
taut. The moose closed tightly over Chiefs
iugular vein and windpipe. He struggled
with great CONFUSION for a moment, and
then rolled over dead.
Chief was one Of the best known elephants
on exhibition In this country. He was pur-
chased nine years ago by Adam Forepaugh.
in Germany, when he was q years OF age.
At the time Of his death he was 10 feet
inches high and weighed 81 tons. He be
gan life in America by killing q man just
after the ship came into port. A year later
he caught a keeper ard dashed him against
a telegraph pole. Since then he had
murdered five more men and had tried TO
kill scores of others. BE was a terror when
he started out on mis- raIupages, and swept
everything before him, even the Lemonade
purple candy and peanuts OF tine circus
butchers. He tore down a wooden house
at Grand Rapids, Mich, and when he
had finished a visit to side show one far
summer day at Topeka the show looked as
If it had been struck by Kansas cyclone
He took possession Of the town of Akron,
o., and was finally arrested by a country
constable on the charge of disorderly cor
duct and malicious mischief. On Oct S last
in q fit Of anger, he broke from his keeper
in the Forepeugh quarters at Lehlgh avenue
and Edgemont street, and came near kill
ing several people then. At that time
cowboy put ten bullets in his body, which
only had the effect Of sending him back 10
his place with a disdainful snort.
His body viii be presented To Prof. Philip
Leidy, who will prepare the skeleton for
exhibition in the Academy of Natural
Sciences
1t is an interesting coincidence that the
only other large elephant in America known
by the name of Chief which was owned
by Robinson Brothers, was put 10 death in
Cincinnati last week by electricity. for de-
veloping the same kind Of vicious temper
as his Philadelphia namesake.