The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-08

BALTIMORE. June s.-The unusual
spectacle of the hanging Of an elephant at
tracted a multitude OF people to the Boil
ton Railroad yards yesterday evening and
is the talk of the town today. Sport. .n4
Injured Zoo elephant, was the victim of
this novel execution and he died on the
Sc Itfold just before o'clock Life was
pronounced extinct just nine minutes after
the elephant was suspended in the air and
the huge carcass swayed in the breeze
while hundreds watched it with q feeling
akin to awe. After the great beast was
dead, his keeper. George Mullock wept
over his body. for he had been much at
taehed 10 Sport
Sport ate some hay and drank several
buckets of water during the afternoon
spraying his body with some Of the water
Once he tried to get u2 and started for the
door of his car but his injured spine gave
way and he fell back on the floor with
series Of groans that echoed far down into
the yard and caused the busy hucksters
and drivers TO look in wonder toward the
car.
Between and O'Clock people began to
flock into the yards. in spite Of the vigor-
Gus efforts Of the railroad men stationed at
the gates. There were too many en-
frances. and. once in. il was impossible TO
get the crowd out The throng became so
large that finally all the gates were closed
tight and nc one allowed TO either enter or
20 out. Thus thwarted. men and BOYS
took to the fences and the stone bridge
over the Baltimore and Ohio tunnel The
roofs OF houses in the neighborhood began
to grow black with people. and every win
dow that overlooked the scene was filed.
Dozens Of boys climbed on top the freight
cars and the top Of Sports own car was
covered with persons who had come to see
him die
All the while the crowd gathered the big
steam derrick Of the railroad company,
which was TO be the instrument Of death
stood clinehed down to the tracks by
strong iron clamps The immense iron
pulley hung out from the powerful beam.
and there was an Ominous Kissing as En-
gineer Charles E. Warner began to set up
steam
DR.. Robert Ward the veterinarian. su-
perintended and managed the execution.
He arrived about $50 O'Clock and was soon
in consultation with l. c. Frederick. sta
tior agent at Bolton. as to the best means
OF getting the elephant to the gallows.
James z. Tate. well-known local athlete.
offered to shoot the elephant II there
was any difficulty IN the way of hanging
him. He had brought out a formidable
rife used in hunting moose in Canada,
An elaborate sketch OF the elephants head
had been prepared by Hugh Nicholson. the
miniature painter. showing the exact loca-
tion OF the brain and the proper spot for
the shot. DR.. Ward however, thought
there would be no need for the rife or
sketch, and succeeded IN getting an engine
attached to the elerhant's car.
The start OF the procession to the gal
lows began at els o'clock. when an engine
slowly pulled the car down the yard, stop
ping just a little in front of the derrick
on a side track. Captain Baker and about
twenty policemen forced the crowd back
from the car and the derrick and the
active preparations for the hanging began.
II was at first thought that il would be-
necessary TO give the elephant some drug
or administer ether or chloroform before
adjusting the moose, but after looking him
over DR.. Ward decided that IT would be
perfectly safe to attempt it without the
drug, and that the sufferings Of the ele-
plant would not be increased In case Of
struggle, however, an yeast powder bottle
OF prussic acid was OH hand
Frank c. Bostoe& took upon himself !
most Of the labor Of preparing the animal |
for death. Long coils Of heavy rope were |
brought The rope Sad been procured for |
the hanging, and was of manila. three |
inches thick II was capable, an official of !