The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-11

Yer TIVE Days He Has . Hot 11ns
An q Kansas Town.

UoR 1--WE Days He Has . Hot Tine
N . Kansas Town.
a prodis,ous elephant named Rajah
broke loose In Argentine. suburb OF hAn-
sas City, last week. and tore the cisy Wy
for two days.
He upset a railroad car and did other
violent things. When fired at twenty tsm<s
ne refused TO succumb or return finaiiy
he was captured nnxle-nand~n ny an I'M
armed man.
The people OF Argentine watched The per-
lormances Of Ra5ah from the roofs OF fneir
houses. which they considered the most ad-
vantageous position.
The ot;sbrrak OF Rajah is attributed TO ar
attack OF fever in his feet, which makes
him intensely irritable
He began by wreck.ng Lemen Bros. cir
Gus. TO which he beiongs- Three hundred
feet Of iron switch chain bound his legs.
Like Samson. ne broke his chains as
thread OF tow is broken when tt toueaeth
the IRE.
First he oh.rgee on smaller elephant,
named Albert, and knocked him down
Then he picked up "A cage of monkeys and
threw II NJ the royal Bengal tigers he
smashed the wolves cage ard let loose
two Of those animals.
Rajah might have set free the lions and
tigers, had he not been seized wttfl an IN
tense desire for fresh air. lie broke
through the Sigh, wooden partition That
fnc;osec the meaagsrie AID went out to ex-
piore.
Soon he came TO the Santa Fe railroad
yards Many things here 6ispleased him.
He attacked box car with his head and
Almost but,ed II on the rails but finally
allowed II 20 fall hack to its original posi-
ton. Then he smashed In the front end
OF the car.
Looking around for something more to
break. he saw a switch. Although II was
OF the strongest iron. he snapped II IKE
. twig.
OF course. there were plenty of circus
men after him They carried rifles, iron
bars, pitchfoYGs and other weapons. and
made soms piueky efforts 10 stop him. But
when an elephant runs amuck no human
power can stop him. He mus, have his
run.
while Rajah was toying with the switch
the men made an attempt TO chain his hind
lees. He noticed this. and ran north II the
direction Of the Santa Fe depot.
He saw a man on top Of box car. With
his head lowered he charged straight at
the end OF the car Instead Of upsetting
the car. he drove his head through the
wood work. The man was thrown down.
but while Rajah's head was inside the car
he had time 10 jump Up and make his
escape.
Rajah was surprised for d moment. Then
he took his head out. put his forefeet on
top Of the car. q locked around. He
saw the man disappearing behind a row
of cars. ana didn't trouble to follow him
The main street OF Argentine was near
at hand. Rajah dashed into It. Men ran.
women and children shrieked. Soon every
body vas indoors and many were down
In the cellar. Rajah did not seem blood
thirty. but he was excessively violent.
lie amb.ed along the strees and tore up
q couple OF electric light poles Then he
wrcnched = hydrant out OF the pavement
and hurled 1t through a saloon window.
A pleasing array Of fresh vegetables
caught his fancy for . moment, and he
stopped and devoured the who'll stock.
The storskecper offered no objection.
At this point circus man rode past
Ratah on q white horse. lie was accus-
TONED TO follow this horse. and he started
In hot pursuit. 1t was just what the CIR
Gus people wanted. They planned TO lead
him TO q fsid and have him chase this
horss or some other round and round until
he grew tired.
Rajah followed the horse until he reach
ed q corn fed, Just outside the city Blu,
he did not chase. He changed his mind
and went back to the circus headquarters
The monkeys shrieked with fear. the
tigers roafed. and the lions dashed their
tails as they saw him coming. Rajah threw
the monkey house about nifty feet and
smashed the glass front OF the serpents
cage.
While the circus people were endeavor-
ing 20 secure the serpents. Ralah proceed.
cd to other business. He broke into the
hall where the aerohats practice. One
woman happened TO be here, and watched
him with dread from trapeze UP near
tie roof.
Rajah tried the trapazes with his trunk
and sent them smashing against the roof
Then he put his foot through big net
and finding himself tangled up he tore II
10 pieces.
Once more he broke gu, INTO the open
An old cow gaxeo at him reproachfally
and no charged on her and tramp.ed he,
TO death, Altogether he left the circu,
three times within "a few hours.
AT 6 O'Clock. when IL WAS dark he made
his way TO small wood near the Argen
tine elevator. Evidently he wished 10 TN,
something like his native jungle.
Tie keeper, on the faithful white horse
then rode forth, carrying 9. lighted Ian
tern. He went within a hundred yards O.
Ra.ah and attracted his attention Mel
wise In the ways of elephants said that h,
would follow the lantern for an indeiinit,
time. This turned out to be true.
Raiahs rage was somewhat abatei. bu
he was in no condition to be handled Al
night long he followed the lantern in
lrisurely way. Sometimes he stopped
keeping his eye on the lantern and thci
moved ON again Thus :. was possible 1,
lead him away from the city.
In the morning Ra1ah found himself II
another cornfe'd NTH the tired kcaac
and white horse. The other circus me,
gathered around and u=ed al their Gun
ming.
Their first plan was Ia ssaiid fiv
around hlin. in the hope shat It wou.
keep him rootes 20 the SPOT With fear
They built the Ore. bat 4, had the re
verse effect :rem taat desired Rata
Enifrea q, the ERE, plunged through H. az
started on another RAMPAGE. Civilization
had taught him familiarity with fire.
Ry this 'iuav tas Excitement IN Arge,
tine was enormously greater than on it
yr>s-..--..e day- s'slrioksfy oxercaFsa YEA,
Schools were empty and the streets fiI
City Marshal iArs.xaorg issued precianla
tica warning sAe people 20 keep oat 81 y,
streets white the elephant was ~ srg,
They s;gS'ously neglected his advice
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