The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-09-13
A JUMBO On A JAG,
He Empties n jug and the Wild Carouse
Eegins-Huried His Keeper Away.


Frankfort, Ind, September S.-While
the Ringing Brothers circus was exhib-
iting here yesterday, Babe, one of the big
elephants IN the menaGerle, was taken with
cramps. Charley Malloy, the boss animal
man, sent for Il gallon of whisky, and, ac-
cordlng to the instructions of DR.. AleXan-
der, the veterinary surgeon Of the show,
told Ryan, the elephant keeper, to give
Babe 4 tablespoonful of peppermint in a
pint OF the whisky every half hour.
Ryan did as he was told, but careessy
left the jug, containing nearly gallon of
the liquor, on the ground within reach of
the animal, while he went elsewhere.
On his return few minutes later he was
Mortified to find the cork to the jug gone
and the jug nearly empty. During his alb
sence the elephant had evidently pulled the
cork out and drank the whisky. Such is
the story and the conjecture.
Ryan, fearing that he would be discharg-
ed for his carelessness, did not report the
matter at once but took the jug and hur-
ried away to the nearest saloon to have it
rehlled, hoping i'll this way to cover up the
mistake. In the meantime the whisky was
getting in its work and Babe began to de-
Velop some OF the symptoms of an elcphan
tine drunk.
His loud trumpetng attracted the atten-
ton of the other animal keepers, who, how
ever, We're unable to understand the cause
of the elephants queer antics. The huge
brute rocked from side to side, swung his
trunk, and rolled his little eyes as if in Il
very paroXysm of delight, at the same time
giving vent to series of poiSes such as
the Oldest elephant keepers had never heard
before.
The unusual actions of the elephant had
by this tiiue caused u crowd OF thirty or
forty OF the employees to gather around it.
James Dillon took ali elephant hook, and
By prOdding, tried to Subdue the animal.
His iooliarilness, however, nearly cost Linn
his life, for the elephant became terribly en-
ragged.
Quicker than a flash he had his trunk
wound about Dillon, and, raising him above
his head, held him there for fully IL minute.
The bysranders were horror strcken, eX-
pecting every moment to see Dillon dash
ed to the ground and trampled upon.
Waving him i'll the air, as Il child would
wave Il penny flag. the powerful animal
threw him fully twenty feet through the
air against the side of the tent. Had Dillon
been thrown foot further to the right he
would have struck against Il pole and I'M
doubleday been instantly killed. but ii was
the yielding canvas that greatly lessened
the force of the shock, and thus saved his
life After hurting Dillon through the air
the elephant gave one mighty wrench. broke
his chains and began staggering rampage
through the menagerie The other ele-
plants were thrown into a panic. and it
required all the skill and presence of mind
OF their attendants to keep them under
control
The cage animals also became frantic,
tcmpts to break their cages. Had the au-
dience in the main tent known what was go
ing on & panic would have ensued
Babe reeled over to the large tank of the
hippopotamus, and was pounding against
the side of it with his trunk
In the meantime several feet of re,
had been secured and. tying a sljpknot
one end of it, John Sneller, the boss g.;
vas man. slipped the moose under one .
Babes hind feet and in another insta.
had slipped it upon her leg
BY number of quick and skillful move
ments the big beast was e--tangled within
many coils of the rope, and thus secured 10
strong stakes.
Up to this time every one had supposed
that the elephant had been seized with a
sudden vicious inclination, but at this iunct-
ure Ryan, who had retlled the jug, quietly
slid under the canvas and deposited it
on the ground.
When he heard what had happened dur
ing his absence he became greatly agitated,
and confessed his carelessness. The ele-
plant was kept bound about two hours ut
the end of which time his bonds were re-
leased. and his cramps and drunk were
both over.