The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
THE GHOST OF AN ELEPHANT.
How TOpsy, the Man-killer, Visited
COIumbo, of the Same Habit.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
&c. H. Murray, being duly sworn. deposes and
says that he is In charge of the bureau of pub
licity and promotion at Luna Park. and that,
upon information and belief, the statements IN
man-killing elephant. killed ON jan last; are
Sworn to before me this 10th day Of septem-
Der; Isos ,o1,N II rv.Ns
commissioner of Deeds. City of New York"
The following is the story Mr. Murray swears
to: Columbo is the strangest elephant in the
mo a nee Is are arad o near Sm and y
his bedfellow is a twelve-year-old Cuban boy
who is called Frank Gummis and for whom the
big animal will do anything.
And it is of this little chap that this story is
mainly about-at least about T him and the living
killing elephant which was executed at Luna
Park after killing her third man
the who had been paying his feed bills all
summer. Then he had to be taken by his owner.
Tony Lowando, whose circus troupe is helping
make merry these weeks at Coney Island and
il about that Luna Park sheltered its
second man-killing elephant.
In the daytime SO that the public may view
out of which he cannot get AT night he sleeps
in comfortable stable.
colony was startled by the sounds that came
from the elephant stable. Occasionally the
screams OF the boy were heard. but above ALL
was the believing of the elephant which con-
tinued after the boys cries had ceased. Watch
men and firemen went TO the stable. but dared
added another to his list of victims. Finally the
owners OF the park, Frederic Thompson and
Elmer s. Dundy, arrived from their apartments
attired in pajamas.
The roof of the building torn open with
fire axes and from above it was seen that Frank
was clinging to the front legs of Columbia who
shaking with fright. The keeper and ele-
plant made dash through the door as soon as IL
opened. Columbo aiding the boy by pushing
him with his trunk. When they were as far
away from the stable it possible TO get
the boy told his story.
According TO his statement the two had been
sleeping soundy when the immense form of
another elephant appeared on the scene
1T walked over to me- said Frank. ''and vet
never hurt at all. The two elephants glared
at one another for some moments and then
Columbo started to attack the strange elephant
but it was there and still il not there We
down and then sideways. 1t walked through
Columbo and stood on me just Columbo did
when he knelt Mr.. Goodrich before he stuck
his tusk through his body. / tried to raise INV
hands to reach it. put my hands on its hide
and still L could not feel anything. Then /
knew ii was the ghost of another elephant Then
X talked to my elephant. and whatever IL said
side to side much that / thought he would
knock the side walls down.
After that Columbo took me with his trunk
and pulled me between his front legs and then
for the first time I'm my life heard an elepha M
talk. The ghost was Topsy and she told Columbo
how day, the day she died they had mn
chains around her legs and tried to persuade her
said that they gave her carrots with poison i'm
them, and that they had put sandals on her
feet, and that when she tried to kick them of n
bolt of electricity had hit her and she dropped
down and died. And now Coumbo wants me to
take him away, but don't know where to CO."