Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-13

AN ELEPHANT IN THE GAME.
1ring-a-r.inn. Went the Newspapers
the Bill.

Between noon and / o'clock yesterday
the report got out and ran riot in the
city that a man had been killed by an
elephant in John Robjnson's circus parade
that had just passed through the principa!
streets OF the town. Those people who
followed the parade out Broad street and
paid IS cents to get in the big tents to see
the lions ana smell the sawdust didn't
see any show at all compared with the
free performance given over the tele-
phones to the men in The newspaper, offices
of the city by the folks who wanted to
know whom the elephant had ruthlessly
murdered. and how the whole thing hap
pened anyhow.
Al the very first q prominent afternoon
paper Sc, out to investigate the matter
reporters were sent out, stations called
and the city hospitals questioned. In the
meantime the papers artist was asked to
get ready to make a half page picture of
i ferocfous elephant, and the city editor.
as he rushed hither and thither declared
teelingiy I'VE have seven-column story
Cor a 1870 extra
AN OLD. OLD STORY.
But. alas! for the fondest hopes of the
newspaper man! The story proved to be
the same old circus story that has been
told since John Robinson went into
business seventy-five years ago.
1t took the newspaper Offices fifteen
minutes to collect wits and become sensi-
bie-the public wasn't satisfied for six
hours, and many country people went
home confidently believing that the ele-
phant had mashed a mans brains out
~at First and Franklin streets.
Phone messages began TO come in to the
Dispatch office shortly after Il o'clock.
One Of the very first was from high
official in the advertising department OF
the paper. He was in a dry-goods store
on Broad street, and was plainly excited.
Listen to me. Listen to mel he SAID.
For G-ds sake send a man at once to
First and Franklin streets" (and hero
his wind. due to his corpulency of body,
gave ou) and finally-"Send man at
once to find out about my poor friend. He
was knocked down by an Infatuated ele-
plant and his brains are now cozing out!
Horrible! Send man at once" And
here his breath gave out entirely
did you see the accident?" was asked
him, 'or did you only hear it?'
run. RUN: RUNE"
II didn't exactly see it, he gasped;
''but others did. Run, run, rum
"Ah. old man, you are faxed too! Poor
old fGI!OW! ana the receiver was uuii6
up at the Office with a sigh
And then the rain of inquiries came in.
Business houses. professional men. ex-
cited ladies. department stores, the Rich
u7ond Fire Department, the City Hall
off1ces-everybody, wildly excited, asked
breathlessly for particulars about the
frightful accident.
Dear, me. Dispatch" said an aristocra-
tic voice from the West-End, can you
tell me something about the fr1gthfui ac-
cident? Isn't it fearful? All! l believe
am about to faint! Do tell me at once.
Did the elephant kill h.1n?"
Madam, calm yourself was the re-
ply. 1--WE can't find the dead man. If
he was killed he was utterly annihilated
Besides, the gentleman who was report
ed killed denies the charge most stsen-
uously."
Dear me-" said the lady; 'if he denies
1t, then he must be telling the truth. l
know he wouldn't say what was not So
Oh! how glad am that he wasn't killed"
AGAIN THE JINGLE.
Ting a-ling-ling," went the bells of the
two telephones.
-'Can you tell me- "Will you tell me"
Please tell me, Can it be true, About
That awful accident" Wont You please
.ell me- were some of the opening re-
IT was rich treat, and a show without
n single fake feature just to answer those
phones. 1t was a revelation Of human
character. a nature study, only to take
account of the many voices and the mani
fold curiosity and RIGHTEOUSNESS Of the
average citizen of to-day.
John Robinson showed at the head of
Broad street to a crowd of many thous-
and people. There were bushels of pea
nuts, wilderness Of sawdust. and oceans
Of pink lemonade. The glitter OF tinseled
horsemen opened wide the eyes of the
horde of country darkeys, and the scores
of deacons who took along with them a
host OF dazzled children. Mr.. Hippo and
Mrs. Hippopotamus were loudly adver-
Used by stentorian voices from tops of
platforms at the crowded entrances of
the wilderness Of tent and rope.
The newspaper philosopher stayed in
his office and for four hours and half
answered questions concerning the Jaw
full accident over the telephone. ut was
a great show he said. But he wasn't
even thinking about John Robinson.