Evening journal., 1891-03-24
TIP TRIED TO KILL HIM.
A Close Call for the Big Ele-
plants Keeper.
HE WANTED HIS NINTH VICTIM

snyder Was seized by the Brntes Trunk
and Knocked Insensibie-The Vicious
Animal Was Endcavorlng to Trampio
His Life Out When lie Was Rescued.
NEW YORK, March "a. Tip, the elephant
presented by Mr.. Forepaugh 70 the Cen
tral Park menagerie, came near adding
another human victim yesterday to his
record Of eight keepers that he has already
killed. Tip has been irritable for some
weeks, and not long ago his tusks were
shortened with the aid OF saw about
foot. On the tusks were also riveted iron
bands, 70 which were attached martingales
fastened 20 a strapped band around his
body His or hind leg was also chained
70 an iron stanchion ia his cage
Charging at the wooden wall.
William Snyder, who has charge Of the
elephants, was cleaning up the cage Of
Tom and Lizzie, a happy couple Of ele.
phants that live next door 20 Tip, when he
heard report like pistol shot, and the
next moment Tip was trying 60 knock
down the partition between his bachelor
quarters and those OF the married couple
and found that the brute had broken the
band about his body aud was charging at
the wooden wall that kept him from his
rival, Tom.
Seized by the Brute.
The keeper went TO quiet the animal,
but with that scream that is peculiar TO a
rogue, the elephant turned on him, seized
him with its trunk and held the nun IN
midair Three or four times the animal
thrust az the man with his tusks. and it
was in warding oil these attacks that Say
der's right hand was injured, and it was
owing to the animals tnsks having been
cut that the man was not killed at once
Tried to Trample Him to Death.
The elephant, enraped at his i'll success
IN trying 90 kill his keeper then threw him
! violently on the ground Snyder struck
the back partition Of the cage with his head
and WAS rendered unconscious The ele-
| phant, bent on crushing out the mnn's life
BY tramping On him, rushed toward its
victim. snyder had, however, fallen out
side tie elephants range, who again and
again tried % reach the keeper. but the one
chain on the hind leg was true, and the
brute finding itself foilcd iii one way then
began 70 batter the partition again, knock.
1 hih uAN AAfkt NlAllNtin Oh wool
Rescued by q Policeman.
Park Policeman John ~ Murphy had
seen from the front Of the cage what had
happened and he ran around to the rear
OF the building and dragged out Snyder
with no little risk TO his own life. for the
elephant was trying 90 hreak the chain
that held him, and with his trunk was try
ing to reach Snyder, and on the police
mans appearance the brute trumpeted
savagelya at him. Snyder, who was dragged
out by the legs, soon recovered conscious
ness, and except for bruised head and
a wounded right hand, seemed none the
worse for his narrow escape
Harmless at Last
The other keepers at once came to the
help of their comrade, who determined
more securely to chain up the angry ele-
| phant. This was no easy matter, but Sny-
der, despite his severe shaking up, man
aged TO get chain around the near
fore leg, which was soon made fast to one
Of the iron bars Of the cage. These bars
are three inches thick, and IN his struggles
the elephant bent the bar badly. Martin
| gales, however were fixed TO the tusks and
new chain was thrown around the ami
mails body, and he was then practically
I harmless.
A Close shave for Snyder.
Snyder, in speaking about the affair.
/ said he knew TINT Tip was wicked. but he
thought he could manage him After he
was grabbed up by the elephant he re-
membered nothing until he found himself
outside, and he put down his escape TO the
fact that the brute's tusks had been sawed
off He also said that he felt rather sore
about the ribs and back, which he Thought
was owing 20 the grip the beast had got
on him with his trunk
Police Officer Murphy said lie heard a
noise in the elephant house and on enter
ing saw Snyder lying at the far end 81 the
cage and the elephant trying to butt down
the partition. As soon as he got around
to the back door Tip tried his utmost 10
get at him, and screamed with rage 1T
was pretty close shave for Snyder he
said
Though Tip is a magnificent specimen
Of hls race, il was the general opinion Of
the visitors at the Zoo yesterday that he