St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-10-01
ELEPHANT STOPPED SHORT.
A WOmanss Narrow Escape fF00 Ons
" These Beasts On the
Ranpage.

speaking Oh Giep0Autb, sdIu Au
Who had been listening to story con
cerning the intelligence of the hug,
carth-shaking beast. II have. for per
sonal reasons. \ very high opinion o
such animals, because when was il
India two years ago 1t was my misfor
tune to be in the power of one of these
behemoths-and it very considerably
let me 60"
allow was that?" inquired friend
"Wel," continued the speaker. "i'
was at Allahabad. in the northwest
provinces, that one evening happened
to be out driving with lady. On our
way home It occurred to us to cal
upon Col. Farley. and when we reached
the maidan, or wide plain, which, on
the farther side, his bungalow over
looked, we decided to let our carriage
be led around and to cross the maidan
to the house on foot. There were sun.
dry bitches and numerous rut holes in
the plain which made driving in the
dark dangerous. 50 we got out and BE-
gan our walk.
"Now, in the center of the maidaB
there stood q barn in which the ele-
plants belonging to the department
OF which Col. Farley was chief stored
their forage, and ON that evening one
of these animals, having been either
idle or misbehaving. was still Mt that
late hour busy unloading itself. and
a very bad temper, indeed. it seemed tc
be in.
I'VE had gone about a third Of ou'
way when | heard its shrill cry. pro
testing at working overtime. and III
trumpeting significant of revolt. NJ,
companion also heard the furious
beast, but she only laughed and said
..What q queer noise that elephan
is making.
".Yes, very strange replied. but
didn't laugh. For again ! heard tn,
noise Of the angry beast. and, SO it up
peared to me. coming nearer and near
er. Still I walked on, listening will
both my ears, when suddenly caugh
that strange and dreadful rustlini
sound which an elephant. when it j
moving fast, always makes. 1t Is tn
feet brushing on the surface, Of TIL
ground. Otherwise the advance of tn
colossal brute is noiseless.
.'Can you rum / now asked m,
companion.
"'Yes, of course / can.' she said
'Why?'
Look / continued. DO you se'
that white object glimmering owe
there? 1t is a culvert, little bridge
When tell you to 60 you must rul
there as fast as you can and creep j.
under the woodwork as far as you cal
possibly GET While l was speaking
was staring into the gloom trying t
catch sight of the approaching beast
But against the deep shadows Of th,
barn and trees behind nothing coui,
be seen. Suddenly heard the clink o
chain-quite close - on my righ
hand.
Rum | said, and the next instan
there lowered out of the gloom. seem
ing positively to overshadow me. th'
elephant. For a moment j saw th,
CLEAN of its sawn tusk stumps, heart
InG XIGdt OI0tG OAGAN4&e dn0 AAGo-
why, or wherefore, is mystery
could never solve-it swung swiftl,
round and Vanished al spectrally n j
had appeared"
"And the lady? 2" asked listener. 80
licitously.
"Why. she had only got about so fee
away from where was standing whe1
she dropped to the earth in deas
faint. When she came to her senses
and Col. Farley helped her into m.
carriage. and. after congratuiatint
each other on our escape, we>contin
red on our way home. The next morn
| ing we heard that one Of the colonel
elephants had killed its keeper tn
night before. just after dark. IN. Y
Sun.