The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-15
AN ELEPHANT TO BE HANGED.
Sentence of Death by Strangulation
Passed on q Huge Beast in Berlin.


Passed on Huge Beast in Berlin.
Berlin Letter to London Telegraph
Not very long ago large crowd of Off
Gals and curious persons assembled at a
frequented spot in this capital to witness
an execution. All the preparations had
been most carefully made, and the
aid of several hangmen had been
called into requisition; but the
rope broke. and the intended victim
received temporary respite. He is now
walking about, sleeping, ald living in much
the same style as before the verdict, though
apparently his supply of food is stinted.
This denouenent requires explanation. 1t
may be remembered that "Rostom,n one of
the two Indian elephants presented in 1881
by the Prince of Wales to the geological
gardens at Berlin, some few years ago ran
his warder through the body with one of his
tuskS. The poor keeper died from the effects
OF his wound. Sentence Of death was not
at the time passed on the culprit; it was
deferred, aud only quite recently solemnly
proclaimed.
''R Jstom" was, however, not condemned
to the scaffold for this crime alone; he is
said to have learned nothing from the
clemency siown TO him after the above
mentioned outrage, and to have displayed
on divers occasions since that time evident
mptoms of a wicked and depraVed
nature. More over, Lis external Appearance,
as compared with those of his colleagues in
another part of the elephant house, is
declared, and with justice, to be any
thing bat attractive, and to have brought
discredit on the establishment Some
gossips attributed this to want of
food-it being affirmed that he hos had
to live ON almost starvation rations, besides
having had his feet in irons since The CON-
mission Of his foul crime Be that as it
may, ire director of the geological gardens,
after long and deliberate consideration, and
after having consulted all the experts, re-
solved that no reason would any longer be
alleged why 'Rostom" should not pay the
penalty of his crimes with his life. The
black cap was hauled down, the judge me-
thodically placed it on his head, and the
thick-skinned monster was solemnly de-
prived from that moment of buns, bread and
peanuts and sentenced to death ty strdngu-
lation at the early hour of z O'Clock on a
given morning. The mode of his death had
also been previously carefully considered.
Some proposed that he should be shot, but
this method was considered dangerous, lest
the bullet should not take immediate effect,
or lest the sportsman's hand should tren Die
and miss the mark. Others pref erred
poisoning, and some suggested the electric
current. All these propositions were re-
JOSeOo Al lawn u ~ OSCSS Va OIL
by three-quarter-inch steel wire.
Every precaution having been taken, the
moose was let fall over the monsters head at
what was supposed to be favorable mo-
ment. This was when he passed out of his
half-opensd csge in order to sniff the morn
ing air. No fewer than forty-two men were
stationed in the vicinity to draw the moose
tight. Whether it was that the dumb
creature had presentiment that these
ri1thIaSgIU
on depriving him OF light and
life, or whether it was that the arrange
ments were clumsily made, the main
point is certain, namely, that "Rostom." as
soon as be felt the pressure of the wire,
quietly made a slight movement in the
opposite direction, and snapped the
substance that was to strangle him as if it
had been cotton thread. The executioners
we're discounted; the chief officers were
dumfounded, but "Ro tom" took no further
notice Of them, and continued his PRONE
made around his out of-door Enclosure. The
next attempt to settle "Rostom" is post
poned until after the directors return in
November.