Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-18

Mandarin, the Giant of the Herd,
Went Crazy at Sea.


Mandarin, the biggest elephant in
the Barnum & Bailey show, was put to
death on the transport Minneapolis at
IL o'clock last night. He died in the
cage in which he had just made the
voyage from France. They strangled
him with a hawser and some donkey
engines.
On the trip over from France Man
DARN became unmanageable and got
into such feverish condition that it
was deemed impossible to remove him,
without great danger, from his cage on
the main deck of the steamer.
The Minneapolis had been out from
Dunkirk only two days when he got the
tantrums and exhibited a desire to de-
stroy things. From that time out his
temper grew worse and worse. He
thrashed around in his cage in the
main hatchway so much that he smash
ed the front and sides Of it. Then
they loaded him with chains and fas-
tened his trunk to his body so that he
could not move it more than foot
from him.
1t was in this mournful plight that
Mandarin came to port. 1t wasn't safe
to lead him through the streets, and it
wasn't feasible to leave him where he
was, so they decided to send him to
the happy jungle to join Tip and Tom
and all the other unfortunate elephants
who have been unable to accommodate
themselves to the conditions OF their
captivity. During the five years of the
shows absence five other elephants had
gone the some road under the same cir
cumStanceS.
Dot {n6 n
death only after competent judges OF
animal nature had told him that 1t
would not only be practically impos-
sible to get Mandarin out OF his steam
er cage, but surely impossible to lead
or carry him through the city streets.
Preparations were accordingly begun
early to put the big beast out OF the
way in as humane a fashion as is
known The animal men decided on
stanguIation. Big Tom, the Central
park elephant, was killed with 600
grains of cyanide of potassium. 1t took
the poison half an hour to bring him to
the floor and an hour to destroy his
life. The circus people didn't want to
kill their pet that way.
Arrangements were made early In the
evening to run big hawser around his
neck and then strange him with the
power of the donkey engines on the
Minneapolis.
Preparations were also made for q
suitable burial at sea. A big barge was
brought alonside the Minneapolis at
her West Houston street pier.
On the barge were 5000 pounds OF
iron rails. This, it was explained, was
to weigh down the elephants cage so
that it and its occupant would sink.
A tug was called to take the barge 10
miles out to sea and commit it to the
deep.
John Burke, the canvas superintend-
ent of the show, had charge of the ar
rangements. With him on board the
Minneapolis early in the evening were
Tody Hamilton, DR.. Way, the veter1n-
airy surgeon of the show; Charles r.
Hutchins, the treasurer, and Harvey
w atkins, Whiting Allen and Lewis E.
Cook of the publicity department.
George Conklin, the big shows ami
NAL king" who had trained Mandarin
for years, refused to witness the beasts
death. He said he couldn't bear the
sight.
There was particular regret over the
necessity for parting with Mandarin,
because he was not only the largest
but the cleyerest and one of the most
famous members of the herd.
He had belonged to the old London
snow. MT. Bailey DOuSuI lie HSAU ~
wears ago, and it was one of the first
troupes of trained elephants ever ex-
hibited in this country. Mandarin for
years had the reputation of being one
of the most docile elephants in captiv-
ity. The herd is said to have been re-
sponsible for the consolidation of the
Barnum & Bailey interests.
Mandarin's age was 35 years. Ac-
cording to the circus people he was the
father OF Titus. the first baby elephant
born in captivity in this country. He
weighed something like 10000 pounds
and was frequently used for heavy
work in the tent and on the road, such
as pushing of wagons and cars. He
| had always been tractable until his
ocean trip this time.-New York Sun
Stuffed Onions-Parboil or steam
] half q dozen SnaniSh or other choice