Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-09
ELEPHANT EXECUTED,
Columbia, Former Barnum Pet,
 Pays Penalty at Bridgeport.
ORIGINAL BABY" PACHYDERM
Herd of Comrades Stand MoodIy Swayine Back and Forth In Their Places as Monster Gasps In Her Asony-Mothe Present at Hanainq.

Bridgeport, Conn.,. Nov 9.-Colum- bia, the original baby" and the first elephant born ill captivity in this coun- 1 try and one of the most famous pach- yderms known to the circus world, is no more. She went the way of all ''bad' elephants at the winter quar- ters of the Barnum & Bailey circus when, with a thick hawser about her neck, she was strangled to death. Co lumbia was bad" clear through, and 1t was only after she had demonstrat- ed that she was incurably vicious that the circus officials decided to put her to death.
 The manner of Columbia's taking off was as spectacular as any circus act. In this instance, however. there were only few selected spectators.
 The Executioners Arrive.
 Trainer Denham, one of the most ex. perienced of the elephant men with the big show, was chosen to direct the execution of Columbia. At an early hour Denham, with a corps carrying a heavy block and fall and hawsers, advanced to the south end of the big elephant house, where Columbia with her face in the corner like a naughty child at school, was chained Along the sides of the house some twenty other elephants comprising the Bar mum & Bailey herd, apparently real ized that something unusual was about to happen, for they grew nervous, tugged at their chains and trumpeted shrilly.
 The executioners finally reached the great swaying hulk in the corner, most of the men, however, keeping a dis erect distance between themselves and the bad" elephant Denham, who, although deaf. possesses a remarkable sixth sense" in dealing with animals, fearlessly approached Columbia's side and then worked his way toward the massive, swerving head. For a mo- ment the wicked eyes searched his face and the snakelike trunk poised as if to strike. Then, with a quick movement Denham threw the hawser about the powerful neck.
 Columbia choked to Death.
 Just over Columbia's back the bloch had been attached to a stout girder, and with rattle as fifteen men laid hold of the hawser the moose slid taut into place. A shrill trumpet was choked, and there was a rattling of chains as the great beast fell to it's knees. Columbia did not die for fully fifteen minutes. Then when the haw- ser was slacked Columbia's body roll ed over on it's side.
 The remainder of the herd stood moodily swaying back and forth in their places as though, as one of the circus men put it, they were at a funeral" Then big Albert was brought forward and with chains drag ged the body of Columbia to the other end of the elephant house. There it was skinned. for Mir. Ringing had asked that the hide be saved. The legs will go to Charles Hutchinson, one of the Barnum & Bailey managers, who will have them mounted. and a couple of the giant molars will make paper weights for the desk of a circus off. cial
 Columbia was one of the most high ly prized elephants of the Barnum & Bailey herd. She was born in the zoo in Philadelphia twenty-eight years ago and weighed 9,350 pounds. Her moth- CT is Babe. one of the largest of the Barnum X Bailey herd, who was pres ent at the execution.