Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-06-19
A HOT TIME.
Campbell Bros. Great Big Elephant Venus
on the Wa Path.

on the Wal Path.
Harry R. Moore, the big, jolly,
press agent for Campbell Bros. shows,
which are to exhibit in Devils
Lake, Wednesday, June "a, told a
reporter the following really truly
honest, elephant story:
SIN my past 80 years of circus and
Theatrical experience IN the land Of
the Free" he commenced, 81 have
seen many very funny, as we'll as
some rather startling occurrences. The
affair which left perhaps the most
vivid impression on my mind happen
ed while the Campbell circus was
showing in Yankton, S. D. Venus
was the hero, heroine rather, of the
event. Venus is Il monster female
elephant, the largest of her species in
captivity, and is also one of the
%iercest. She is a danger II animal
and has killed three men in her time.
knowing this you can imagine our
dismay, then, when we found that
this dangerous beast had escaped at
Yankton. Just how she accomplish
ed the feat of getting away l do not
know. The first thing we knew
about the affair was when the news
reached us that some sea monster was
sporting in the muddy waters of the
Missouri. The monster was Venus,
and she was monster enough to strike
terror into the hearts Of the boldest.
AS we approached she gave a vicious
trumpet, and started for the shore.
Can an elephant swim2 I don't
know, but l do know that that
elephant got across the river with
out a great deal of trouble, and to
all appearances she swan. Across
from Yankon is a great brush COW
cred marsh, and into this the
dripping queen Of the circus tent
plunged. We followed her with
ropes, a great gang of US, but we
could not get within 200 yards of
her. She started off at a gallop,
and soon disappeared. The marsh
was pretty soft in places and she
came zeal getting stuck once.
To tell all the things that that old
gal did the next two days would take
half the afternoon. She tore up the
country for miles around and scared
the country folks neatly to death by
chasing their stock into their very
houses. She seemed to have it in for
everything on four legs, though she
steered shy of men. She killed four
cows, a thousand dollar Jersey bull
and four cats that l know of. We
paid for everything but the cats.
Well, it's getting pretty near train
time, SO I won't 60 into further de-
of her doings. W. tried every
available means that we could think
of to capture the willy brute, but all
to no avail. Finally Keeper Prof.
Wood, African explorer and elephant
trainer. hit upon a plan which looked
feasible. If there is one thing in the
world that Mrs. Venus loves besides
peanuts it is Hamburg, no not steak
you might call it a stake
but a baby elephant. The professor
plan was to entice the youngster onto
a huge float, take him out in the riv-
opposite the marsh and 80 coax the
old lady into the deep water. Once
there, with ~lassoes, etc, we thought
we might trap her. The baby is a
big baby and weighs a few pounds.
There was but n scow in the region
that would hold him and that was
hardly large enough, though we
figured that by tying him solid it
would do. We secured the services
of the C. NJ. & St. P. wrecking c1ew,
the pile driver crew, and all the
available section men with a lot OF
blocks and tackles and went at ele-