New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-09
DAMAGED BY AN ELEPHANT.
PANIC on WEEHAwKEN HEIGHTS.
THE BEAST INFURIATED BY BIG FIRE
CRACKER EXPLODED UNDER HIM BY
A MIsoHIEvoUs CARPENTER.

CRACKER EXPLODED UNDER HIM BY
MIsCHIEvoUs CARPENTER.
Royal, aged thirty, is usually sedate and temper
ate elephant and 1t not his fault yesterday that nc
was guilty OF some premature and realistic acting on
the FL Dorado ground on Weehawken Heights where
Bolossy Kralfy will produce King Solomon; OF
the Destruction OF jerusalem" Royal, in fact, Is
sort Of Solomon among elephants. and II was his
judlcous and serene bearing that recommended him TO
Kralg. The only flaw in Royals composition Is tna'
he doesn't like frecTackers. But Mr. Kiralfy says tha
William OMahoney is responsible for this and that II
will not be safe for William to venture near hoya
hereafter
Royal has been working in the FL Dorado garden foi
several weeks, earning his bread like anybody else
employed there, by hard work. 1t was lis uuty I"
assist in moving rocks and shifting scenery, ana ne
did his work so we'll that he was worth four OF hVs
horses And the big fellow liked his work. too. From
weehawken Heights he could the Goddess Of Liberty
and even the elephant Coney Island. That seemed
to make him feel at home until William oMahoney ap'
peaTed the scene.
Three or four hundred men were laborng away az
the grounds yesterday putting on the finishing touches
that are to turn the place into coliseum, ana Royal
was the happest creature the grounds. But VIII
lam, who is frOlcsOme young carpenter, cCuh hot
bear to the elephant take life so quietly and pre-
pared pleasant little surprise for his sedatc Old friend
O'Mahoney engaged with number OF carpenters In
building the STAGE and Royal was ponderusy tramp
ing ND and down in front of It. OMshoney slipped oil
the structure just rs Royal passed by, showing big
bonlder in front Of him, and dropped lighted cannon
frecracker under the elephants hind legs without
calling Royals attention to the circumstance Then
he jumped back on to the stage
There was a terrific explosion. and Royal nearly
tumbled TO the ground in amazement. But he rose
with fearful snort and bound and shrill loot that
nil Wephayvkpn fprrVbOats 10 grab
their wheels in trcrdat0n. The next second the en-
ragged and frightened beast with his tail In The air
and his tapping broke into headong run across
the garden, over grass plots, nowerbeds' and all
straight for crowd Of workingmen in front Of the
grand stand.
OMahoney disappeared through the STAGE like the
villain in the play while Boossy Klralfy shot up from
under the stage like harlequin to see what mischief
was going on. lie saw the elephant scuddlng across
the grounds like a Dutch galliot under full SAIL and
swarms OF wOrkingmen scattering Ike sheep with
yells Of terror.
A big darkey was so paralyzed with fright that he
fell into bed Of mortar, and got his mouth so choked
up that he could YELL and his ears eyes and hair
full of the stuff that it took hour to wash him
and dry him up. Some men climbed trees. and one
man in his fear began to shake treewhy, he himself
does not know. But the majority of the crowd simply
ran out of Royals path for their lives.
The grounds occupy some acres and Royal had
plenty Of room. lie made first for the grand stand
which lie attacked in his rage lie ripped OIL fifty
feet of the fancy railing, and threw the staff over the
Palisades. But there one cool man in the whole
crowd and he was the elephants keeper BY the time
Royal had begun to smash the railing the keeper was
by his side The nurated beast turned but the keeper
stuck his hook into Royals ear Nevertheless ROya
plunged along toward beautnl ana coslY hoW We,
bed trumpeting wildly all the time, and dragging the
keeper with him. The fower-bed was trampled into
rims and then ROYAL started off on another run But
this time he brought up against big stone fence that
ne could not climb. and in few moments the keeper
had him in hand. STILL 1t some time before
Royal was entirely suhdued.
ROYAL will take part in the opening Of the show
on June %, but O'NIahoney won't. lie has been
" fined" for his little joke.