The age-herald., 1901-11-04
A BIG ELEPHANT
 KILLS ITS KEEPER
A REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF
 TREAcHERY ON THE PART OF
 WALLAcE'S BIG MASTADoN- HOW THE BRUTE WAS KILLED.

The great Wallace show, which exhibits in Birmingham next Thursday, has been particularly unfortunate with its ele- plants. In the last three years MT. Wal lace has lost $60000 in elephants losing two this season. One was killed by light ming, and the other was poisoned because 1t killed it's keeper. Aside from the ele- plants, MT. Wallace has been very for tunate with his animals, and today he has one of the finest and best collections of choice specimens of the animal king dom ever exhibited.
 Big Charlie" one of the largest and meanest elephants ever exhibited. killed his keeper, Henry Huffman, at the win ter quarters of the Wallace circus in Peru Ind. The elephant was immediate ly sentenced to death, and was speedily executed by means of large dose of strychnine, which was administered to him in apples.
 The unfortunate affair occurred just two days previous to the initial perform ance of the Wallace circus for the sea- son. For several days the elephants had suffered from annoying itching, which results cleaned and their entire body greased. The excitement and hustle in and around the large brick buildings of the quarters, and the appearance of hundreds of stran- gers incident to the starting upon the road, seemed to disturb and irritate the elephants, and especially Big Charlie"
 Henry Huffman was one of the most successful elephant trainers in the busi- ness He was kind and really loved his wards. He always placed the interest and preference of the elephants ahead of his own convenience. and Big Charlie" seemed to reciprocate the affection of his keeper. When Huffman was absent sometimes for several days at a time the beast would not eat, sleep, or drink, but would remain upright, wabbling on all fours, switching his trunk and tail, and in various ways, he made known his un- happiness because of his keepers ab- sence. As soon as Huffman would re- turn the elephant would resume its usual routine of life and appear satisfied.
 On the fateful day as the two friends approached the river. "Charlie' appeared out of humor but Huffman did not mo- tice 1t. Suddenly the elephant threw its keeper into the river. The doomed man scrambled to the bank, and treating the incident as 8 joke. approached the brute and said: "Why, Charlie, I did not think that of you. Amt you ashamed of your self?" Instantly Charlie twisted his trunk about Huffman and hurled him into the water for a second time, rushing in himself. Charlie" stamped upon and stood upon poor Huffman and held him down in the watery grave.
 The remains were rescued and taken to the bereaved home. In the meantime were concluded, and the grandest opening in the history of the Wallace shows oc- cured on scheduled time The beasts pranced back and forth in their cages. the performers worked hard to please the immense crowds, and the thousands made their hands sore applauding, while poor Huffmans body lay not far away cold in death, instead of appearing in the cir GUS ring as advertised.
 Saturday night came. Almost a half thousand circus employees went to their couches, not to sleep, but to think of the uncertainty of life, and to shed a few tears in silence for the untimely end of one of their esteemed fellow employees. Instead of leaving that night the circus trains remained in Peru. that all might attend the funeral the next day. The familiar tune of "Rock of Ages" was never played with more fervor and feel ing than at Huffman's funeral, when Wallace's band. better known as Profess sor Bronson's military band of thirty pieces, played it. The day before the band had played lively gallops. and within twenty-four hours 1t played sacred music as a part of the Christian burial service, the clown who had a little while before amused the multitude with his antics was consoling the widow; the equestrian director who had worn himself out arranging and directing the first days performances had assumed charge of the funeral personally. In fact, the scene of tinsely flying sawdust and ex- citement had given away to genuine mourning and Christian service.