New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
ATTACKED BY AN ELEPHANT
NARROW ESCAPE IN CENTRAL PARK.
v1c1ors roNr KNOCKS KEEPER powX AND

VICIOUS TON" KNOCKS KEEPER DOWN AND
TRIES TO GORE HIM-A BRAVE RESCUE.
Frsnk Fisher, aged twenty-seven. OF No. 200
East twenty yeighth-st.. had narrow escape from
death early yesterday morning at the Central
Park Menagerie
Fisher who had been with Barnum & Bailey
snow for some years, was employed by W. W.
Coles, who il the real owner of The elephants
Tom and Lizzie who have had temporary home
in the Central Park Menagerie for some time, 10
take charge Of Tom" who is to 50 Last on
April !. With view TO making "Iom ac-
quaintcd with his new and future keeper, tlsher
was detailed to look after the animal for the icw
remaining days that the elephant would spend III
the "Zoo' Fisher came on duty Friday morn
ing and all went smoothly that day.
Yesterdays experience was quite another tale.
Fisher in company with William Snyder, the
regular attendant Of the elephants, entered the
elephant house shortly after Z o'clock, ana aler
cleaning out Tips" pen. proceeded to clear OUT
the one shared by " Alice and Tom Iom'
who has already been described in these columns
az nearly as wicked brute Tip" has his of
hind leg chained to staple near the back en-
trance to the enclosure He showed no signs of
mischief when the two men entered the enclosure
and both were soon busy raking out the trampled
hay Snyder had his back turned 90 ms COM
pauon when ne heard a sudden cry from flsheI.
" Help, Billy help" and al The same nhohleh'
there was a heavy thud, as Fishers body was
dashed against the northern partition OF the pen
Tom" had evidently been looking out Tor Il
good opportunity, and with one thwack OF ms
powerful trunk sent the man IN a heap Into the
northwest corner Of the pen
SNYDER had been in such prcdicaments before.
hut was horriiicd to see " Tom get down on ms
knees and, opening his mouth, try TO jab at
the prostrate man with the stumps of his tuskS
The scene is best described in Snyders own
words d" | was rlking out the cage and was al
the far end of n, nearest the allcyway, wheA !
heard Frank call out and saw HIM all CURED up
in the corner with old Tom, looking as wicKed
as an elephant can, stopping over him. caiieu u
Tom 10 come away. but he would not obey me, and
dropped on his llnccs and tried 10 Jab FRANK with
what j. left Of his nsks Luckily the brutcs head
is 30 big that when his forehead came against 'he
nortition lie was not able to get his mouth near
enough 10 the man actually TO hurt hiHi' l"'
brute had got his trunk up in tie air ana was
doing his utmost TO get at Frank. At lir't
Thought Of dragging the man toward the a''''
way but WAS afraid il ] did 50 that the brute
vould turn On me also, and We should D0th pr
dead men, | had with me. luckily, my elephant
hook really a mahout stick, and ! plunged u
| into Toms hide IN the stomach Just behind inc
right forccg This made the brute get up ana
he ohc,cd my command 10 move over. In thc
meantime was yelling for help, but none came
| | al-, told Frank TO crawl ont OF
tLe hack door. which was luckily open. lie
did 80. and saw him tumble oFcr
,n,, tbc snow outside and knew that he "as
safe Tom knows me too well 10 Try ANY
mnukcv tricks with me. but VIII own that !
,gos fairly scared when ! saw Frank down ana
tia, wicked old brute over him. Frank Is the
/ tlird man whost life / think ! have saved from
| the ecphants in this menagcric Tom Ice "ns
nearly done for hy 'Old Dutchy In So: "he,,
/ rau,e ~ his res .ilc. and only IN JuN, ISL
saved Tom NcGuinucss. who woulI nave c'I';'iIllt
been killed hv this SANE rascal 'lon' hau "o'
been around , a., r.sur,
Tribune reporter went into the encl,THu,lrr
4 and .,v- vhcr Toms" hard forehead lah fiu'HN
Iov,oy the paint from the boards. leaving th'" iin
,,I,if, deal i'm his yicious attempts to get ~ III,
/ yicfirn and outside IN Tho snow was ~" l!'p,'
/ of ,,c man Who had only had strength chouS.
I - roll ont Of the pen. An amhuhhr' NHs ~
/ C,r and Fisher was taken 10 tie FreSnNtil'I
/ iTs,i,oI where II wls learned that hc was SUM-
,r, fr,n severe clmtu-ions ~ ia" tllch' nul Won"
! ,.r,l,bl, be- DISCHARGED m a few DAYS. ,
/ >tlprriutcndcrt 'onkln was iGll IN ms PI"iI9
/ - S,,,Icr and said that he'd II not nrch Tor li''
! ,,,'. nlurt and presence ~ nlnd flehcr "ou'
] rnJoubt.dlv have been killed.