Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-12-03

Enkin EHHpsiSE nuN tiS Wv f'NNf e"N
then Il struck no that tie Ritaaucn
was an unpleasant one.
NV office WIS opposite one OF the big
floors OF thu warehouse, but ninety lcet
nway. To reach II l must cross tho
building. NV first iden was to go for
help to secure tho elephant. but he had
scarcely broken. loose whom pando-
monium reigned supreme. The other
elephants began TO trumpet and to
strain ut their chains. and every wild
beast set up an outcry. Tho big fell
low came stright to my end OF tho
warehouse, swinging his trunk right
and left. and within tsn feet OF my door
he began worl, on fifty sacks of corn
corded up IN row. He picked up tho
saclxs. ono after another, and flung
them about. and he grew more angry
with each effort. lie wasn't through
with the sacks when the smaller elo-
obnnts broke loose end then knew
| what I must prepare for. Tho watch
man outside had caught the alarm, and
he came 10 the nearest window and
| shouted To mo. / dared not answer
him. as the elephant was now close By,
and I was fearful that the sound OF
NV voice would cause him TO attack
NV frail shelter. 81
Having tossed tho Inst sack high IN
air. the big fellow made a rush down
tho warebouse for tho smaller ones.
who were trumpetinq ut each other
other and preparinp for a row. He
knocked ono of them over with his
rush. and then pursued the other as he
fied among the niles OF freight We
had boon protty we'll cleaned out by
the last shin. but wa had considerable
machinery. two hundred barrels Of
salt. three hundred bags of sugar. Ave
| hundred barrels OF flour about
Thousand American smoked
hams. with. perhaps, fifty boxes,
largo md small, containing
dry goods. groceries, boots and shoes,
and other stuff. When the small ele-
phant who WINS knocked down went
over he smashed the lions cage. and I
plaiplv saw both of them leap over
him and spring upon the cage holding
| the monkeys. Such a growing and
snnrling and bowling and roaring no
one ever heard before, and the rumpus
drew the attention of the elephants di-
rectly to the cages. Dropping their
own differences for the moment, they
drove Mt the cages, and In two minutes
the entire collection except one wolf.
killed in his cage, was let loose and
flying around the big room. by this
time the Waterman had aroused a
number OF people. but they dared not
open the door / stood no show to
reach the door and let myself out and
at once decided that my safest plan
was to keep quiet was In the dark
est corner OF tho building, and unless
one of tho elephants took 1t into his
head to investigate L might hope TO
escape injury. My room was not us
high as the ceiling OF the warehouse,
but only about nine feet. and the top
OF 1t was ceiled over. This made .
platform about 9xl4, and l knew that
some OF the animals would seek this
shelter IL driven that way. All did ny
to my end OF the building as they got
out OF their cages and the very hrst
move made by one OF the panthers was
to leap upon the platform. The other
was seized by one OF the tigers right
before my door, and the fight lasted
until the elephant came 10 investigate.
Then for about five minutes every
thing was rs quiet as you please. The
animals seemed TO be sizing each other
IN. and taking In the situation. /
could hear the people outside moving
about and talking in exciting tones. but
when they hailed me dared not re-
ply. for the big elephant stood within
four feet of INV window. and was grow
inc restless for further destruction.
The lions stood side BY side ON tho
barrels of flour. which WERE piled IN
about about eight feet high. while tho
tigers were further down on the other
side and we'll on ton tho baps OF sugar.
One PANTHER was aboye me. as have
said. while the other had slsulked
amony the machinery. The wolves l
could not see. but n biz serpent was
over by the doors. and the MONKEYS
were aloft among the rafters. One of
the bears was crowded into a corner
evidently Wishing TO keep out OF the
row. while the other | could not see.
The hyenns had been skulking among
the hams md what started the row
anew was ono Of them trottinq down n
wide aisle toward my Office TO find
,afer shelter. The patter OF his feet
aroused the bio elephant and he made
n breal, for the lions. who were way-
ing their tails and defyinp him to
como ON. He hit tho pile OF flour bar
rels about In the center, and knocked
n lot of them down. but before he had
reached them both lions leaped to hi,
hack. and from tlonce to thu floor be-
hind him. This was the sig
nal for a terrible battle. n