Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-04-26

...s . ss~syr- 80 |. 3 6 scf day
una XIII Mdn-Big Charley Makes
His Mark as a Man Killer.

The following from the LOganspOrt
Reporter with regard to the ele-
plants of Wallace's circus soon to
be here, will be read with interest as
both the man and the animal most
prominent are known here:
Big Charley, one of the largest
elephants with Wallace's circus,
killed one of the keepers this after
noon at Peru at 2:30 by ducking the
man in the Wabash river until he
drowned. The elephants, six in num-
Der, got on a rampage at the winter
quarters this afternoon and despite
the efforts of the men about the place
for the Wabash river.
Several Of the keepers and circus
men, Henry Hoffman among the
number, pursued the beasts With the
intention of subduing them and fore
ing them to return to the quarters.
The elephants became angry and the
men were afraid TO approach toe
closely. Hoffman was more venture
some than his companions and got
| between the animals and the river.
Big Charley started for Hoffman,
and retreat being cut of the man
plunged into the water. Big Char
ley followed and caught Hoffman be
| fore he got far from the bank. Seiz
ing the unfortunate fellow in bis
trunk, the gigantic elephant plunged
Hoffman again anG again under the
water. When Hoffman ceased tt
struggle the enraged beast placed the
body in the bottom of the river anC
crushed it with his foot L
was at this point that an ole
hunter, who hearing of the occur
renee had come to be a party at the
killing, appeared upon the scene. H.
stated that the poison eaten by tn
elephant was not sufficient TO xii
him and that the only way to kill th,
animal was to shoot him. He wa.
told of the ineffective efforts of th'
employees with Winchesters and re
marked that he had gun that woult
do the work and started for home t,
procure the shooting iron.
Returning shortly he handed o e
La long barreled muzzle loading fl
to one of the keepers, stating tba' b
would shoot the elephant, but tha
his long run had upset his nerves
| Elo olfoctcd tuS uldu W SStuTc d ~
sition behind a tree near the elepban
and when the animal turned so as t
expose his left side to shoot him be
hind the left leg The elephant az
peared TO anticipate the plot and
was necessary TO attract the animal
attention to another part of the flel
to allow the man with the gun an OF
. portunity to shoot.
The shot was fired at $50 O. cloc
. and true to the mark. The man
moth brute dropped to the groun
dead. 1t was several moments b
fore anyone had suffi cient courage
go near the elephant to ascertai
whether or not he vas dead, but
last Mr.. Foster went up and assure
the onlookers that it was tie EFT
The reason the former sho
had not taken effect was tn;
! they were fired at the boo
b and covering the carcass OF Il
, elephant the hide is FIVE or six inch
] thick At the one spot beh n Il
left leg is the only point where oU
let could take effect, the skin belr
4 less than an inch thick
II By the shooting of this animal b.
. Wallace, owner of the Wallace circu
: is out $9, ,O00s OF course the tusl
/ can be sold for several thousand dc
ars and the hide for at least tho
sand, but then the elephant was on
30 years of age and the life of an el
phant is said to be about 200 year