Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-25
ELEPHANT TOBE WAS HANGED.
Two Other Elephants Were Made to Play
the Part of Executioners.

according to the accounts in Satur-
days newspapers, Tip. the big elephant
of the Central Park menagerie. In New
York, suffered for ten long hours from
the poison administered before death re-
lieved him." said Walstein Root, at the
National Hotel, on Saturday, says the
Washington Post. 1T seems to me that
those who had the killing of the vicious
elephant in charge made a brutal botch
of it. Last winter / saw an elephant exc
cuted in Peru. Ind, and IL was as neatly
done as could be. This animals name
was lobe. and he was the most formidable
brute ever brought 10 this country. He
was a monster In size, weighing fully
5000 pounds. and was thoroughly bad-a
rogue in every sense.
"He had been owned by the propretors
of several shows Forepaugh had him,
then Sells Brothers. and at the time he
was killed he belonged TO the Wallace
circus. which wintered in Peru. Ind.
Wallace tried TO conquer him. but every
day lobe became more and more vicious.
Keeper after keeper failed in the effort
TO break his indomitable spirit
AT last, Wallace said one final EFFORT
to bring lobe TO terms should be made,
and that If the attempt did not succeed
he should be killed without further ado.
He had always been kept chained. and
by hard work, additional chains were
placed upon him. so that all four Of his
legs were fastened with pulley chains 10
posts.
"Then the punishment commenced. He
was prodded numerically about the head
and ears with pitchforks and spears.
This treatment usually subdues a vicious
elephant. Tobe. however. stood like the
old war that no VaG and NOT groan
or cry escaped him to betray the pain
he was suffering. When the prodding
ceased the uncOnquered monster gave
vent to wild and awful trumpetings of
rage.
1T was evident that the only thing 20
do was TO kill him, so two big sets of
harness were made from heavy rope and
fitted TO Diamond and Prince, elephant
enemle, of lobe. with whom he had
fought many a battle. A slip moose ~
strong rope was, with great difficulty,
passed over the vicious brute's head
and around his neck and attached by
pulleys 10 the harness of the other two
animals.
when everything was In readiness the
two elephant eXecutioners were started
ia opposite directions and vigorously
prodded with spears.
The ropes creaked and drew tight
about old Tobe's neck. one desperate
lunge forward. a half-choked scream OF
rage. and the huge terror fell He be
came unconscious in SO seconds, and at
the end Of minutes and y seconds his
pulse had ceased to beat. The victor OF
hundred fights and a brute unconquered
by man, was dead. There was scarcely
a struggle and no pain.
MANY persons witnessed the execution.
and pronounced 1t wonderful piece of
work. There was no danger OF poisoned
saliva, as In the New York execution,
and the doctors who performed the
autopsy were not Obliged TO work In
poison-saturated flesh.
'"Tobe was what Is known as a rogue
In their native state they do not stay
with their herd. but are driven away
from II. and take TO the jungle by them
selves. where they wage war against the
entire animal Kingdom. Tcbe had been
in captivity long time. and had killed
several elephant-keepers."