The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-12
The Lattsfs Trunk Was FrlghtfuIIy Torn
BY the feroclous Beast
STEtRAGE PASSENGERS IN A PANIC.
For Whole DAY Thsy vsc. Tsuo-Srctsn.
Finally Elephant Keeper Went I,io the Hold
and Killed Tho Tiger With a Rifle.

New York. May ia tiger named
Croker broke loose on the steamship
Pisa, which reached this port yester-
day from Hamburg, and for one day
during the passage created consterna-
tion among the Pos steerage passengers
. who were making their voyage with
him, and was not subdued until he had
torn the trunk of Diana. one of the
elephants. in frightfdl manner.
Croker was at last cornered and shot
by Carl Zeller. the keeper of the ele-
plants. Croker had received his name
from the cook who. it is said, had
formerly served on the police force OF
New York.
There was a goodsized menagerie
ON the Pisa. as many as 500 beasts and
reptiles. including IL elephants. tigers.
4 leopards, bears, l puma. 20 boa con-
strictors, camels, boxing kangaroos,
IL ostrichs and 300 monkeys, and they
had their quarters in the hold. just
below the hunks OF the steerage pas
sengers. On the night of May 4 there
came a roar from below which awoke
every LIVING being on board. High
above the tumult that ensued were
heard the trumpetings of the elephants.
The second officer. Henry Won Mar
bon, was ordered TO go below and learn
the cause. of the disorder. He obeyed
cheerfully, and having groped down
the steerage ladder he thrust his head
into the gloom OF the hold. Another
moment and he had shouted back 10
the commanding officer on deck:
"Crcker's loose and is clawing Diana q
trunk Xon Marbon- -Mas-then or
dered to release Diana from the tiger
claws. BY this time the steerage pas
sengers were out of their hunks. Many
OF the women had tainted and several
of the men had made fast TO life pre-
servers. Won MARION slowly let him
self down among the camels and made
his way toward the tiger. He had
planned to lasso him from a hiding
place. Except for few lanterns the
darkness of the place was unbroken,
since the rolling of the ship had ex-
tingu,shed most OF the lights.
Croker, however, was not to be
trapped. Springfng over the camels ne
gave the second officer an opportunity
as lassoer The immediate outcome
or the bout was the loss OF von Mar
bon's coat and several slashes i'm his
trousers. Another instant and The was
up the ladder. The pandemofium in
the hold was increased. Two bears.
the leopards. the puma and the tigers
beat at their cages and threatened the
other inmates of the hold with still
further diversion At last Carl Zeller.
the keeper of the elephants. found a
nrearm and started to the rescue Of
Diana.
1t had now become apparent that
croker could not be dealt with In a
trlfing manner. Zeier made his way
into the hold and finally sighted two
large blazing green, balls which stood
out In striking contrast with the dark
piack ground. The tumult had sub
sized somewhat and only the wounded
DIANA was crying.
never had target to shoot at lust
like that one" said Zeller in telling
OF his experience II simply aimed AZ
a place half way between the eyes Al
the report of my rifle / knew that
mad struck. In an instant the two
green lights disappeared in the gloom.
1 got lantern when the smoke had
cleared away. found the tiger
stretched out on the deck, hit square be-
tween the eyes"
Croker was buried next day at sea.